
There are many cultures and religions that follow a lunar calendar or a lunisolar calendar, which means that the cycles of the moon are followed or considered along with the position of the sun.
Lunar New Year is the beginning of the new year based on the lunar calendar or lunisolar calendar. You may think that you have never heard of Lunar New Year but you probably heard of it referred to as Chinese New Year. That’s because the date of Lunar New Year for most East Asian countries comes from a date on the Chinese Calendar, which is lunisolar. More accurately, Lunar New Year is an event that is celebrated by numerous cultures in various ways for different lengths of time. This year, Lunar New Year officially falls on January 29. 2025 is The Year of the Snake.
In 2023, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to declare Asian Lunar New Year a public school holiday across New York state. New York state is home to the second largest Asian population in the United States. This new law allows over two million New Yorkers to more comfortably and proudly celebrate this special holiday.
I can attest to the reality that celebrating a holiday in a community where the population majority does not celebrate is difficult! There are no sales, no promotions, no readily avaliable decorations or special foods, and no time off work or school. Yes, you can make it work. But planning a celebration is stressful enough, even when everything you need is easily accessible.
My family celebrates Lunar New Year. More specifically, we celebrate Seollal, written 설날 in Korean. In Korea, Seollal is an important three-day celebration. The government essentially shuts down, many businesses are closed, children do not attend school, and most people travel back to to their hometowns to be with extended family. Like most holidays worldwide, regardless of country, Lunar New Year is a time when special foods are eaten, special prayers are said, traditional games are played, traditional clothing is worn, and special music and dances are enjoyed.
Lunar New Year Events
Check out some of the events happening around Rochester and nearby.
Lunar New Year Celebration by The Syracuse Orchestra
January 29 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pmWelcome in the Year of the Snake and celebrate the Asian community in Central New York. Experience t...
Find out more »Lunar New Year Celebration by Buffalo AKG Art Museum
January 31 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pmBuffalo, New York + Google Map
Lunar New Year Celebration by University of Rochester
January 31 @ 5:30 pm - 7:00 pmCelebrate the Year of the Snake with the University of Rochester! This event will feature festival a...
Find out more »Spring Festival by Chinese Club of Western New York
February 8 @ 11:30 am - 9:00 pmBuffalo, New York + Google Map
2025 Lunar New Year Festival by APAPA
February 8 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pmRochester, New York + Google Map
2025 Lunar New Year Celebration – Year of the Snake! Join us as we welcome the Year of the Snake w...
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