By Amanda Moses
The Lunar New Year will kick off the Year of the Dragon on February 10th and the festivities continue to be celebrated for the next 16 days.
Also known as Spring Festival, this holiday begins on the first calendar month during the new moon (which is why the dates shift every year). It is celebrated for 16 days, ending on the first full moon, which then segues into the Chinese Lantern Festival (February 24th).
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill this year officially marking the Lunar New Year as an observance for all New York public schools. Celebrations will begin on February 10th in Chinatown (at Sara D. Roosevelt Park) with the Annual Firecracker Festival and on February 25th the 26th the Annual Lunar New Year Parade, will takes place on Mott and Canal Streets.
The Lunar New Year Festival is an age-old tradition that intertwines ancient myths and customs. It was created to help honor deities as well as ancestors. Often, the evening preceding Lunar New Year’s Day is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for an annual reunion dinner. It is said that cleaning is one custom in which the house is thoroughly cleansed in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck. Windows and doors are decorated with red color paper-cut outs and are coupled with popular themes of “good fortune” or “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity”. Other activities include giving money in red paper envelopes.
What is this year’s Chinese Zodiac Sign?
In Chinese astrology, every year is represented by an animal. The cycle is twelve years, with a different animal for each year. In 2024, we are entering the Year of the Dragon!
The Dragon is said to be the most auspicious and extraordinary creature in Chinese culture showcasing a wide breath of talent and excellence. It is the symbol of honor, power, success, luck and nobility. Dragon’s personalities are also said to be intelligent, confident, and have qualities worth of leadership due to their ambitious spirit and dominant nature. They are courageous, tenacious, and enthusiastic individuals who are not afraid to take on a challenge or risk.
Zodiac Dragon Years: 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, and 2024
Types of Dragons and their personalities with corresponding birth years are:
- Wood Dragon (1964, 2024) are introverted, lack good relationship and are not very enthusiastic.
- Fire Dragon (1916, 1976) Smart, agile, flexible and easygoing demeanor.
- Earth Dragon (1928, 1988) Smart, hardworking and ambitious.
- Gold Dragon (1940, 2000) Urges to be desired and seen for their talent, as well as straightforward.
- Water Dragon (1952, 2012) Vigorous, frugal, farsighted.
Lucky things for the Dragon Zodiac sign:
- Colors: gold, silver, grayish white
- Numbers: 1, 6, 7
- Flowers: bleeding-heart glory bower and dragon flowers
Unlucky things:
- Colors: blue and gree
- Numbers: 3 and 8
Photo by Amanda Moses
