2.10.24 – Celebrating Lunar New Year 2024

Celebrating Lunar New Year

Saturday, February 10, 2024

APFA would like to take a moment to recognize and celebrate Lunar New Year with those who observe. Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, is steeped in ancient customs and rich symbolism that erases borders and unifies communities across Asia and the world. Unlike the Gregorian New Year festivities observed on January 1st, the Lunar New Year follows the lunar calendar, which varies each year but generally falls between late January and mid-February on the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice. This year, the Lunar New Year is February 10th, 2024. It is the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac.

Originating over 4,000 years ago, its beginnings are rooted in agricultural society in ancient China, where farmers looked to the moon as a guide for when to sow and harvest crops. This led to the celebrations we know today as the Lunar New Year. Celebrations have evolved, blending myth, legend, and customs passed down from generation to generation. Though the official dates surrounding the holiday vary by culture, those celebrating regard it as the time of the year to reunite with immediate and extended family.

Family and good fortune are the focus of most Lunar New Year celebrations. Families grace windows and doors with red paper cuttings and auspicious wishes for the new year. Food has a special role during the Lunar New Year, as many items symbolize luck and prosperity.

APFA embraces diversity and wants to highlight the rich cultures that help propel our union to new heights. The Lunar New Year allows us to reflect on the past year’s accomplishments, express gratitude for our shared successes, and look forward to the promising opportunity that awaits us.

To those who celebrate, we wish you a happy Lunar New Year!