Where To Celebrate Lunar New Year in NYC
New York City, one of the most diverse cities in the world, celebrates Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year. This annual celebration is based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar and is observed by billions worldwide, marking the first new moon of the year and lasting 15 days. Lunisolar combines the solar, lunar, and other cycles for various social and religious purposes and is not the same as the Lunar calendar. The arrival of the full moon is traditionally marked with a Lantern Festival at the end.
During the two weeks, the streets of places like Chinatown and Flushing come alive, showcasing the rich traditions of this holiday. Despite challenges like the pandemic and anti-Asian sentiments in previous years, the spirit of the Lunar New Year in NYC has come back in full force and is a must to experience!
Should You Say Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year?
Depending on who you ask, what to call it can be a controversial topic. On one hand, the argument is that this holiday originated in China, hence why it’s called Chinese New Year, but since other Asian cultures adopted it to be more inclusive it’s named Lunar New Year in the West. That’s a bare-bones summary and there’s a ton more nuance to it, because in reality, the Chinese translation calls this holiday “Spring Festival” (春节) while other Asian cultures have other names for it, like Vietnamese call it Tết. All this to say, I think this is a chronically online argument, quite frankly.
For me, as a half-Asian who participates in the holiday, I simply say Lunar New Year if I know my audience is wide and diverse, but if I know my audience is Chinese then I’ll say Chinese New Year. Either way, the ones that matter to me are people to whom I can say ‘Xīnnián kuàilè’ (新年快乐 ), otherwise, it’s not that deep, but I digress.
Events During Lunar New Year in NYC
Throughout Lunar New Year in NYC, places like Hudson Yards, South Street Seaport, and Port Authority partner with organizations like the New York Chinese Cultural Center for ribbon and lion dance performances.
Lion dancing has long been a form of entertainment and is believed to bring luck and fortune for the upcoming year. The rhythmic beats of drums and the mesmerizing lion heads make their way through Chinatown and Flushing, where the streets are transformed into a spectacle of culture and tradition.
I’ve always stayed in Manhattan just because it’s easier for me to get around. For me, one of the highlights of the celebrations is ‘Super Saturday,’ where over 20 lion dance groups parade through Chinatown, offering blessings to stores and spectators.
Traditions and Customs
Leading up to the holiday, families prepare by cleaning their homes, getting haircuts, and enjoying the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner, known as ‘Nian Ye Fan (年夜饭).’ Symbolic foods like full fish, beef, chicken, pork, bamboo shoots, and glutinous rice cake (‘Nian Gao’) are enjoyed during this time. A couple of years ago, I did a styled shoot with fellow AAPI creatives around the Eve’s reunion dinner since it’s often hard to find Asian representation online.
Another cherished tradition is the giving of red envelopes (‘hong bao, 红包’) containing money for good luck. This gesture of goodwill and prosperity is a hallmark of the holiday, symbolizing hope for a prosperous new year.
Schedule of Events
The dates of these events vary each year, but you can expect these institutions to host something. Wishing you a Happy New Year, 新年快乐 Xīnnián kuàilè!
Manhattan
- Metropolitan Museum of Art Lunar New Year Festival
- Hudson Yards Lunar New Year Live Performances
- Chinatown Events
- Lunar New Year Celebration at The Seaport
- Oculus & 1 World Trade Center Lunar New Year Events
- New York Philharmonic Lunar New Year Concert
- China Institute in America Lunar New Year Family Festival
Queens
- Flushing LNY Celebration and Cultural Fair
- Long Island City New Year Celebration
- Queens Botanical Garden LNY Celebration
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