Lunar New Year

Many people in countries such as the United States celebrate Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year. It marks the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar.

Is Lunar New Year a Public Holiday?

This is not a public holiday. Government and public offices, businesses, and schools are not closed on this day but may hold special events and outreach programs to commemorate the annual observance.

What Do People Do?

Many individuals and communities, particularly Chinese communities, in the United States take part in the Lunar New Year celebrations, which can last for days. Lunar New Year celebrations in the United States have, over the years, included activities and events such as:

• Lunar New Year parades featuring colorful costumes, floats, firecrackers and other attractions.
• Various dances, including lion and dragon dances.
• Chinatown fun runs or walks.
• Balls and pageants.
• Street fairs.
• Firework displays.

Some organizations may hold special contests or make announcements to coincide with Lunar New Year. For example, some newspapers or magazines may announce the top 10 Chinese restaurants in a city or town on Lunar New Year. It is customary for many Chinese-American families to spend time together and exchange gifts, including money wrapped in red and gold packages that are usually given to children.

Public Life

Lunar New Year is not a federal public holiday in the United States. It is a legal observance in California as of 2015. However, some Chinese businesses may be closed on the day or amend their business hours to take part in the Lunar New Year festivities. There may be heavy traffic and some streets may be closed in towns or cities where Lunar New Year celebrations are held.

Background

According to the U.S. Census Bureau (Census 2000: Chinese Largest Asian Group in the United States; March 4, 2002), the Chinese comprised more than 20 percent of the 11.9 million people who identified themselves as Asians in the United States’ Census 2000. That translates into 2.7 million reporting as Chinese – the largest Asian group in the United States.

Chinese historical organizations in the United States can trace the arrival of the Chinese in North, Central and South America as far back as the 1600s. Many Chinese immigrants settled in the United States during the 19th century. With immigration, came Chinese traditions and events such as Lunar New Year, which is now largely celebrated in many communities across the United States.

Symbols

Lunar New Year has various symbols and traditions. For example, 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.

Envelopes with money (Hong Bao, Ang Pao, or Lai See) often come in the color red, which symbolizes happiness, good luck, success and good fortune. These envelopes are mainly given as presents to children. Each Lunar New Year is associated with an animal name for one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.