Mickey & Minnie Mouse don hanbok for Chinese New Year, Disneyland criticised

Disneyland in Los Angeles, U.S., has received backlash after it posted a video of its Lunar New Year festivities as many claimed "cultural appropriation".

On Jan. 18, Disneyland posted an Instagram video announcing its Chinese New Year event at Disney California Adventure Park.

However, what irked some was that the Disney characters, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, were dressed in hanbok, a traditional Korean wear, and Disney wished guests "Happy Lunar New Year" in numerous languages, including Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese.

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CNY or LNY?

Many commenters on Instagram insisted that Disney was wrong to call the celebration "Lunar New Year" instead of "Chinese New Year" and called it "cultural appropriation".

Many insisted it should be "Chinese New Year" due to the festival's origins.

However, others pointed out that numerous eastern and Southeast Asian cultures celebrated the festival.

According to Disneyland's website, the festivities run from Jan. 17 through Feb. 16.

During this time, guests can celebrate the Lunar New Year with Disney characters, food, and activities "inspired by Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese traditions".

One experience guests can partake in is meeting Mickey and Minnie Mouse in "Korea-inspired cultural attire".

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So, which is which?

According to the Chinese travel guide China Highlights, “Chinese New Year” is a more specific term for New Year celebrations, including Chinese culture and traditions.

The term “Lunar New Year” refers to the lunar calendar and is more general, referring to all celebrations that commemorate the new lunar year.

New Year celebrations are conducted differently in different countries, and varying terms could refer to the same event.

Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year can also have different dates, depending on the type of calendar used.

Public opinion remains mixed on the use of the greetings, including whether they can be used interchangeably.

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Top photos via Disneyland/Instagram & Danielle_de_barbarac/TikTok