Wednesday, Jan. 29 may not be a federal holiday, but the day — Asian Lunar New Year — is a New York public school holiday.
The one-day observance — which varies each year and typically comes in late January or early February — was added to all New York public school calendars in 2024.
“By designating Lunar New Year as an official school holiday, we are taking an important step in recognizing the importance of New York’s AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community and the rich diversity that makes New York so great,” Governor Hochul said in a statement following the legislation’s signing. “It is not just a day off from school— it is an opportunity for our children to learn about and celebrate their own or different cultures and traditions.”
What and when is Lunar New Year?
The Lunar New Year is a major holiday celebrated in many parts of Asia and in Asian communities around the world, federal records show. It marks the beginning of the year using the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar.
It is also the transition between zodiac signs, with 2025 the Year of the Snake.
Typically, Lunar New Year is observed in late January or early February of the Gregorian calendar. While New York schools mark it as a one-day holiday, celebrations last up to 16 days. This year, Lunar New Year starts Jan. 29 and ends on Feb. 8, culminating with the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12.
From 2024: Authentic Chinese food in Queens for Lunar New Year a cure for homesickness
How will Lunar New Year be celebrated in New York?
The start of Lunar New Year, Jan. 29, will be marked with an annual firecracker ceremony and cultural festival starting 11 a.m. and running until 3 p.m. at Sara D. Roosevelt Park, Chrystie and Grand streets in New York City.
Probably the biggest and most well-known celebrations is the annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival, to be held Sunday, Feb. 16 in New York City. The festival will run between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Bayard Street between Mulberry and Mott streets, with the parade kicking off at 1 p.m.
In the Hudson Valley, diners at Goosefeather, Tarrytown, will, between Jan. 29 and Saturday, Feb. 1, receive a red envelope and an orange. “Gong hei fat choy! Your Goosefeather red envelope could contain a fortune or a complimentary menu item,” the restaurant notes on its website. (Wearing red clothes throughout Lunar New Year symbolizes prosperity, while citrus fruits such as oranges are believed to bring good fortune.)
Goosefeather will also serve a special feast during that time period to commemorate the Year of the Snake.
The Hudson River Museum in Yonkers will have its annual Lunar New Year Festival on Feb. 1, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., a festive day of arts, crafts, performances, and demonstrations for all ages, free, with general admission.
What is the history of Lunar New Year?
The Chinese calendar uses a 60-year cycle known as the sexagenary cycle. The current cycle began in 1984 and ends in 2043. Each cycle consists of one each of the 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches, which correspond to 12 zodiac animals.
These zodiac animals are the rat, ox, tiger, hare (or rabbit), dragon, snake, horse, sheep (or goat), monkey, rooster (or chicken), dog, and pig (or boar), federal records show, citing the “Encyclopedia of New Year’s Holidays Worldwide.”
The heavenly stems are also associated with one of the five traditional Chinese elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.
How many Asian Americans live in New York?
The recent 2020 U.S. Census data shed light on the evolving Asian American population in New York, according to the Asian American Federation.
Among the findings:
-
The Asian American population statewide increased nearly 38%, growing from 1,579,494 in 2010 to 2,173,719 in 2020.
-
Asian Americans made up 10.8% of the state’s total population in 2020, up from 8.2% in 2010.
-
The state’s population of Asian children increased 32.4% in the last decade compared to a 4.9% decrease in the population of all children.
-
New York City was home to the largest Asian community in the state, with 1,525,851 residents who made up 17.3% of the city’s population.
Contributing: David Robinson of the USA TODAY Network’s New York State team.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Lunar New Year 2025: When is it, the history behind it, what to know
