What is the Lunar New Year?/The Chinese zodiac sign
What is the Lunar New Year? Lunar New Year is the beginning of a new year based on the lunar calendar. Lunar New Year begins with the first new moon and this year it is on January 29. Each year has a new Chinese zodiac sign. This year, the zodiac sign is the snake and the next time it will be the snake zodiac will be in 2037. You can find the zodiac sign on this chart:
How do people celebrate the Lunar New Year?
Many people celebrate the Lunar New Year by hosting parties, using firecrackers, watching/performing famous lion dances, and eating amazing food. Many people give out bright red envelopes filled with chocolate or money. Traditionally, red is a good color on Lunar New Year because it represents good luck and prosperity. Along with the Han Chinese inside and outside of Greater China, as many as 29 of the 55 ethnic minority groups there also celebrate the Lunar New Year. Countries such as Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines celebrate it as an official festival.
12 Lucky Chinese New Year Food Foods to greet the new year
The first lucky food to eat on Lunar New Year is fish. Fish is a good food to eat on Lunar New Year because people believe that eating this will allow you to have increased prosperity in the new year. The second lucky food, Chinese dumplings, are eaten for an increase in wealth. The third food is chicken, and it is eaten to increase luck and wholeness. Chinese New Year cake, the fourth food, is eaten for a higher income or position. Spring rolls are the fifth and are for wealth. Sweet rice balls increase in family togetherness. Long noodles are for happiness and longevity. Lion head meatballs are for family unity and are the eighth food. Steamed pork belly with taro is for prosperity. Eating shrimp is for happiness and vegetables are for wealth. Last, but not least, fruit is eaten for fullness and wealth.
Chinese New Year Decorations and meaning
Lunar New Year decorations are as follows: red Chinese lanterns drive off bad luck, paper door banners are for best wishes for the coming year, and paper cuttings are for luck and happiness. Chinese New Year paintings are a symbol of greeting the New Year, upside-down “fu (福)” characters are for luck, and kumquat trees are to wish for wealth and good luck.
Events at M.S.158Q
If you want to eat food, watch lion dancing, watch performance (the chorus will be singing gong xi gong xi which mean congratulation in Chinese), and do arts & crafts, join us at M.S.158 on Friday, January 31, 2025 at 4pm to 6pm—the event is free entry.
