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Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is when Asians around the world celebrate the new year based on the lunar calendar. This year is the year of the Rabbit. Lunar New Year has been around for 3,500 years. Every year, Lunar New year is celebrated sometime between January 21 and February 20. This year's Lunar New Year was on January 22, 2023. On January 22, the Indianapolis Chinese Community Center Inc ( ICCCI ) held a celebration. There was food, dance and traditional Chinese games for kids.
One special Chinese tradition is watching the Dragon dance. The Dragon dance is when multiple people hold up a large dragon made of fabric and paper. They walk around the room and make the dragon sway back and forth. The meaning of this dance is to drive away evil spirits and to bring in good luck and blessing during the new year. Another way that people celebrate Lunar New Year is with firecrackers. Chinese people believe that this scares away bad spirits and evil.
This is how some people celebrate in Indiana. ICCCI member Ally Zhang says, “We typically make a fancy meal for dinner. We usually have dumplings and Tam Yuan, Which are rice balls with fillings. We pass around red packets. I like getting together with friends and family, especially when there is a Chinese community. I think that it is cool that the Lunar New Year lasts 15 days.” Another ICCCI member Selene Chen says, “I love to go to Chinese restaurants and eat dumplings. We usually go out and watch the parade and the people dance. I feel super happy and excited when the new year comes. Ms. Chu says “I feel like Chinese New Year is a most important holiday to me even though there are not large celebrations like in LA or New York.” “ I often think of my family during Chinese New Year.” “ Usually I celebrate Chinese New Year with my friends instead of family because my family is not in Indiana, but this year I had Lunar New Year dinner with my friends.” “This special celebration is also celebrated in 16 other countries.”
Chinese New year Decorations!
Photo Credit: Alice Christie
I love knowing that CFI 84 students are learning about the different cultural backgrounds of their fellow students and Indianapolis community members through the Post! Way to go!