Celebrating Lunar New Year In Rochester

© María Castellanos from mariacastellanosphotos via Canva.com

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 pm

Welcome 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 pm
Buffalo AKG Art Museum
1285 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, New York
+ Google Map

Lunar New Year Celebration by University of Rochester

January 31 @ 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Feldman Ballroom

Celebrate 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 pm
University at Buffalo, Center for Performing Arts
100 Coventry Road
Buffalo, New York
+ Google Map

2025 Lunar New Year Festival by APAPA

February 8 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Flynn Campus Center MCC Brighton Campus
1000 East Henrietta Road
Rochester, New York
+ Google Map

2025 Lunar New Year Celebration – Year of the Snake! Join us as we welcome the Year of the Snake w...

Find out more »

Guide To Winter Activities For Families

Winter in Rochester transforms the city into a wonderland of family-friendly fun, offering countless ways to embrace the snowy season. For moms looking to keep their kids entertained, active, and…

Read More
This article by Devin P.B. has been updated and was originally published on January 25, 2024.