EVENT DETAILS:
Chinese (Lunar) New Year (Confucian, Taoist, Buddhist)
Lunar New Year is a vibrant and festive occasion. This event can last for many days and often includes various festivities such as street parades and festivals featuring dancing, traditional Lunar costumes, firework displays, food stalls, and arts and crafts. Each Lunar New Year is associated with an animal name for one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. 2024 is the year of the dragon.
This celebration is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture. It also influences the Lunar New Year celebrations of nearly 56 other ethnic groups, including Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Many families spend time together giving gifts, particularly red envelopes with money (Hong Bao, Ang Pao, or Lai See) that are normally given to children. These symbolize happiness, good luck, success, and fortune. Flowers are an important part of New Year decorations. Writings that refer to good luck are often seen in homes and business environments. They are usually written by brush on a diamond-shaped piece of red paper. Tangerines and oranges are also displayed in many homes and stores as a sign of luck and wealth.