Lunar New Year
Celebrations for 2024
- Harmony and Prosperity: Lunar New Year Celebration at PCC Southeast
Thursday, February 8th from 3–5pm at PCC
Southeast, Mt Tabor Great Hall. Brought to you by Student Engagement and the Office of International Student Services. - 8th Annual Lunar New Year Dragon Dance Parade
Join the Portland Chinatown Museum for their 8th Annual Lunar New Year Dragon Dance Parade and Celebration on Saturday, February 17, 2024 from 10:00am-1:00pm. Presented in partnership with the Oregon Historical Society - Lan Su Chinese Gardens
Join the celebrations at the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland from February 7 - March 2, 2024. - Vietnamese Community of Oregon’s Tết Festival
Attend the VNCO Tết Festival on
Februrary 17, 2024 from 103:0am to 5:00pm at the Clackamas High School. - Oregon 2024 Lunar New Year Celebration
Presented by Chinese Friendship Association of Portland at the Keller Auditorium on February 2, 2024. - Tết in Seattle from Seattle Center
Celebrate on February 3-4, 2024 in person at the Seattle Center - Lunar New Year Celebration (virtual): Smithsonian Museums.
Learn more about the Lunar New Year including music and activities. Organized by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Happy New Year from the PCC Library!
The Year of the Dragon begins on February 10, 2024 and ends on January 28, 2025.
May the New Year bring you good fortune and happiness!
*image from the 2017 Dragon Dance & Parade in Portland, Oregon by CH, CC-BY-4.0.
Lunar New Year
The Chinese tradition of representing the years with animals dates back to the Han dynasty (approx. 220 BCE). The 12 year cycle of the animals in the Chinese Zodiac is similar to astrological signs. Each year is represented by an both animal and element. People who are born in that year are said to have the particular characteristics or mannerisms of the animal, both positive and negative, that are also effected by the element. The 12 animals include: rat/mouse, ox/buffalo, tiger, rabbit/cat, dragon, snake, horse, sheep/goat/ram, monkey, chicken/cock/rooster, dog, and pig. The 5 elements include: metal, water, wood, fire, and earth. February 10, 2024, is the beginning of the year of the wood dragon.
The Lunar New Year is an important traditional holiday to China and other Asian countries such as Vietnam, Korea, and Taiwan. It is also known as Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, Asian New Year, Tsagaan Sar, Seollal, or Tết. It occurs on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar. The exact date of the Lunar New Year can vary from year to year on the Gregorian (U.S.) calendar, which is based on the cycles of the sun, since the lunar calendar is based on the phases of the moon.
The Lunar New Year is celebrated over a number of days. It is a time for merriment and remembrance with family and friends. Traditional customs include gifts of red envelopes and oranges; special foods such as dumplings and long noodles; and celebrations with fireworks and lion dancers.
*image of lanterns from Dileep Kaluaratchie, CC4.0
