Celebrating Lunar New Year in 2025 offers a variety of cultural traditions, activities, and events that you can enjoy. Here are some of the best ways to celebrate:
Cultural Traditions
Family Reunion Dinner: Gather with family for a special dinner featuring traditional dishes like dumplings, fish, and longevity noodles, which symbolize good luck and prosperity.
Red Decorations: Decorate your home with red lanterns, couplets, and paper cuttings. Red is believed to ward off bad luck and attract good fortune.
Red Envelopes: Give and receive red envelopes (hongbao) filled with money, especially to children and unmarried adults, as a symbol of good luck and blessings.
Lion and Dragon Dances: Attend or participate in lion and dragon dances, which are vibrant performances believed to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits.
Temple Visits: Visit temples to offer prayers and incense to ancestors and deities, seeking blessings for the new year.
Spring Cleaning: Clean your home thoroughly before the new year to sweep away bad luck and make way for good fortune.
Traditional Games: Engage in traditional games like mahjong, which is popular during the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Events
Lunar New Year Parades: Join or watch parades featuring colorful floats, lion and dragon dances, and cultural performances. Notable parades include those in San Francisco, New York City, and Houston.
Art Exhibitions: Visit art exhibitions that feature works inspired by Lunar New Year themes. The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco is hosting an exhibition with large-scale contemporary sculptures.
Community Events: Participate in community events organized by local libraries, museums, and cultural associations. These events often include workshops, performances, and interactive activities for all ages.
Special Events in Major Cities
San Francisco: The popular Chinatown parade is scheduled for the eve of February 15, featuring acrobatic lion dancers, ball chasing dragons, live drums, and red firecrackers.
