Lunar New Year Festival today in Quincy: Year of the Dragon. What to know if you go
QUINCY − Quincy Asian Resources will usher in the Year of the Dragon at its 36th annual Lunar New Year Festival on Feb. 18. The popular event will feature traditional Asian cuisines, three hours of cultural performances and arts and crafts for kids.
The celebration is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at North Quincy High School.
Quincy Asian Resources President/CEO Philip Chong said the opening ceremony and lion dance will begin at noon in the gym. Food and drink from local vendors will be for sale in the cafeteria starting at 11 a.m. Admission is free.
The festival will feature music, dance and other performances representing an array of diverse cultures, Chong said.
Free parking will be available at North Quincy High School across from the North Quincy T station.
"Of course, we always encourage people to take public transportation," Chong said.
When is Lunar New Year celebrated?
In China, the Lunar New Year begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice and can fall on any date between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. This year, Feb. 10 marks the start of the Lunar New Year and the holiday season extends for two weeks until Feb. 24.
The number of days of celebration varies depending on the country. In South Korea, Seollal usually lasts for three days. In Vietnam, Tết Nguyên Đán is a week long.
More: Here's how Braintree will be celebrating the Lunar New Year
Where Lunar New Year is celebrated
Often called the Chinese New Year, the Lunar New Year holiday is observed by many, though not all, Asian countries. About 2 billion people celebrate the Lunar New Year. It is particularly significant in Chinese, South Korean, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysian, Filipino and Indonesian cultures.
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The largest Lunar New Year celebrations in the world and the United States
China boasts the largest celebration of the Lunar New Year, which is also called Spring Festival in that country. According to statista.com, 226 million people traveled during the Chinese New Year holiday in 2023, which is down from pre-pandemic figures of about 420 million in 2018 and 2019.
New York and San Francisco designate the Lunar New Year as a one-day holiday. Every year, San Francisco marks the holiday with a nocturnal illuminated parade through its Chinatown neighborhood. This year the event takes place Feb. 24.
What does the Year of the Dragon represent?
The Chinese Zodiac includes 12 animals, each with its own attributes and characteristics. Chong said that last year, the Year of the Rabbit, represented tenderness, humility, mutual kindness and peace.
"This year is the Year of the Dragon, which is me," Chong said. According to Farmer's Almanac, people born under the dragon are considered ambitious, energetic and charismatic leaders or, according to Chong, "overbearing, too-driven, strong-minded."
What does Lunar New Year signify?
Much like the Western new year, the Lunar New Year symbolizes letting go of the past and ringing in the present.
Chong, who grew up in Hong Kong, said he remembers celebrations of the Chinese New Year in his youth as a time of reunion, showing love and affection with family and friends, sharing great food and staying up late.
"When I was younger, there were family gatherings," he said. "I would see all my cousins. We were encouraged to stay up late past midnight because in our custom, traditionally, staying up late between New Year's Eve and New Year's Day is a sign of respect to your elders − your parents, your grandparents − in terms of longevity.
"Those are good memories," he said.
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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Free Quincy Lunar New Year Festival 2024 at high school
