Mongolian New Year

Tsagaan Sar
Tsgaan Sar at Burkhan Bakshin Altan Sume, Elista, Kalmykia, Russia (2011)
Also called	Lunar New Year (as a collective term including other Asian Lunar New Year festivals, used outside of Asia.) Mongolian New Year Mongol New Year Cagaan Sar
Observed by	Mongolia, Siberia, Northern China and other Arctic regions Ethnic groups Aleut Altai Alyutors Ainus Bonans Buryats Chams Chelkans Chukchis Chulyms Chuvans Daurs Dolgans Dongxiangs Dungans Enets Evenks Evens Huis Inuit Inupiat Itelmens Kalmyks Karelians Kereks Kets Khakas Khantys Komi Koryaks Kumandins Mansis Mongols Monguors Nanais Negidals Nenets Nganasans Nivkhs Nogais Nunatukavuts Orochs Oroks Oroqens Panthays Salars Samis Selkups Shors Sibes Soyot Tazs Telengits Teleuts Tofalar Tozhus Tubalar Tuvans Udeges Ulchs Vepsians Yakuts Yugur Yupik Yukaghir
Type	Cultural (Mongolian and Arctic) Religious (Buddhist and Shamanist)
Significance	New Year holiday
2016 date	February 9, Monkey
2017 date	February 27, Rooster
2018 date	February 16, Dog
2019 date	February 5, Pig
Frequency	Annual
Related to	Chinese New Year, Japanese New Year, Tibetan New Year, Korean New Year, Vietnamese New Year

Mongolia, Siberia, Northern China and other Arctic regions

The Mongolian Lunar New Year, commonly known as Tsagaan Sar (Mongolian: Цагаан сар, Cagán sar / ᠴᠠᠭᠠᠨ ᠰᠠᠷᠠ, Mongolian pronunciation: [t͡sʰaɢaːŋ sar] or literally White Moon), is the first day of the year according to the Mongolian lunisolar calendar. The festival of the Lunar New Year is celebrated by the Mongols along with the people of the Arctic.

The White Moon festival is celebrated on the first through third days of the first lunar month. Tibet's Losar occurs on the same day as the Mongolian White Moon. Tsagaan Sar is one of the most important Mongolian holidays.

The customs of Tsagaan Sar is much different depending on the region. In Mongolia around the New Year for example, families burn candles at the altar symbolizing Buddhist enlightenment. Also people greet each other with holiday-specific greetings such as Амар байна уу? (Amar baina uu?), meaning "Are you living peacefully?" Mongols also visit friends and family on this day and exchange gifts. A typical Mongol family will meet in the home dwelling of the eldest in the family. Many people will be dressed in full garment of national Mongol costumes. When greeting their elders during the White Moon festival, Mongols perform the zolgokh greeting, grasping them by their elbows to show support for them. The eldest receives greetings from each member of the family except for his/her spouse. During the greeting ceremony, family members hold long, typically blue, silk cloths called a khadag. After the ceremony, the extended family eats sheep's tail, mutton, rice with curds, dairy products, and buuz. It is also typical to drink airag and exchange gifts.