新年快乐! 새해 복 많이 받으세요! Chúc mừng năm mới! Happy Lunar New Year MS158!
Lunar New Year is coming up close, and the Asian Cultural Club, Commonpoint Beacon, and AACE have partnered up to curate a festivity for Lunar New Year on January 24th, 6pm, at the cafeteria of MS158! There will be a lion dance, spring rolls (top chef invited 😱), and arts and crafts. For inquiries, contact Noni at NMurphy@commonpointqueens.org and Ms. Wang at YWang21@schools.nyc.gov .
But first, what is the Lunar New Year? Lunar New Year is the beginning of the lunar/lunisolar calendar year. Every month is a moon cycle which is when the moon orbits the Earth. This year, the Lunar New Year is Sunday, January 22nd, but every year, the day changes since the moon cycle is different every year! There is a zodiac animal for every year and your animal is indicated by your birth year! For example, this year is the year of the rabbit and those who were born in 2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, and so on, it is your year! Each animal has a different meaning; for example, rabbits are known to be calm, composed, and they treat everyone with respect. To find out more about your zodiac, click this link: https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/.
Many different cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year and they all have different ways to celebrate! Chinese families celebrate the New Year by setting off fireworks and firecrackers, watching lion dances, giving young people red envelopes (红包) with money in them, and so much more! Korean families celebrate the New Year by eating rice cake soup (떡국), wearing traditional dresses (한복), perform ancestral rituals, and much more! Vietnamese families people in the streets making loud noises, using firecrackers, drums, bells, gongs to ward off evil spirits, and so much more! Lots of cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year, not only these three cultures!
To find out more about the festivities, attend the Lunar New Year celebration on January 24th, 6pm, at the cafeteria of MS158!