During Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year, New York comes alive with dances, fireworks, and vibrant shows. Essential elements of the celebration include fire, lanterns, and the color red. The festivities are incomplete without the traditional Lunar New Year Parade. Read more on queenski.com.
The History of the Celebration
Lunar New Year marks the beginning of the new year according to the lunar or lunisolar calendar, with festivities based on the phases of the moon. Billions worldwide celebrate Lunar New Year on the first new moon according to their calendar.
In many countries, Lunar New Year aligns with the Chinese New Year, celebrated in January or February. “Lunar New Year” serves as a more inclusive term that recognizes multiple cultures, not just China, that celebrate during this time. In countries with their own lunar calendars, Lunar New Year falls on dates that may differ from the Chinese celebration. In the U.S. and Canada, however, Lunar New Year essentially refers to Chinese New Year.
About ten days before the New Year, homes are thoroughly cleaned to eliminate any misfortune. Families gather for a traditional meal on New Year’s Eve, featuring dishes of meat, fish, and jiaozi (dumplings).
During Chinese New Year, family members exchange red envelopes containing small amounts of money and give gifts in pairs, symbolizing family harmony and unity. A pair of tangerines, a special symbol of wealth, is commonly exchanged. The celebration includes dancing, fireworks, and culminates in a lantern show, where colorful lanterns light up homes as residents enjoy traditional meals.
Many legends surround the origins of Lunar New Year. One tale tells of a horned beast named Nian, who feasts on human flesh on the first day of the year. Since Nian fears the color red, loud noises, and fire, people use bright decorations, night lanterns, and firecrackers to ward it off. Fireworks are believed to repel evil spirits and bring good fortune.
The Grand Parade
Each year, the Lunar New Year Parade takes place in Flushing, a vibrant neighborhood in north-central Queens. Thousands gather to watch the parade, which showcases dazzling costumes, dancers, and martial arts displays. The event welcomes people from all backgrounds, statuses, and beliefs, including LGBTQ+ community members and ethnic minorities. Flushing is a fitting location, as it became home to many Chinese and Korean immigrants in the late 20th century.
Parade-goers can join a pre-parade gathering at a local church, where hot coffee and donuts are served alongside martial arts and dance performances. After dancing to the beat of firecrackers at the parade, be sure to explore local attractions like karaoke bars or Chinese restaurants. Don’t miss the festival booths and vibrant cultural and family-oriented events that continue for several days after the parade. The parade is free and open to the public.
Other Festivities to Enjoy
The New York Chinese Cultural Center (NYCCC), a cultural and educational institution promoting Chinese arts within New York’s local and global communities, offers various activities, including workshops and performances of traditional Chinese dance, visual arts, and culture. The center’s professional dance troupe, Dance China New York, performs traditional, classical, and contemporary Chinese dances, preserving China’s cultural heritage.
For Lunar New Year, NYCCC presents its signature program at Queens Museum, featuring folk dances, a lion dance (a two-person performance inside a lion costume), kung fu demonstrations, and traditional arts and crafts. Professional artists host hands-on workshops in Chinese calligraphy and ink painting for both children and adults. Other available workshops include making paper rabbits and lanterns from Chinese envelopes.
The Queens Botanical Garden also features a lion dance, craft workshops, and more. Better Chinatown Society hosts a firework show to ward off evil spirits, and you can even book a Hudson River cruise to enjoy vibrant bursts in the sky while dining on gourmet cuisine. The New York Philharmonic also hosts a concert every Chinese New Year.
Believers in this tradition refrain from bathing or cutting hair on the first day of the new year to avoid repelling wealth. Additionally, buying new shoes is discouraged throughout the celebration period, as it’s thought to bring misfortune. On the positive side, wearing red is believed to attract luck and prosperity.