Lunar New Year kicked off for Chinese and East Asian communities across New York City.
New Yorkers opened up about why the holiday is so important to some of them, and what hopes they have for the new year.
What You Need To Know
- In Chinese culture, the color red means joy and good fortune. During Lunar New Year, New Yorkers can see it everywhere in downtown Flushing, Queens — home to one of the city’s largest Chinatowns
- Chinese and East Asian communities in the city, including New Yorkers with roots to Taiwan, Vietnam and Korea, are celebrating the Year of the Snake
- NY1 visited a Taiwanese temple in College Point, Queens, called the New York Hua Lian Tsu Hui Temple to hear from community members about why this holiday is so meaningful to them and what hopes they have for the new year
- Queens Public Library has programs geared toward Lunar New Year across its branches. The library will be one of many groups marching in the annual Flushing Lunar New Year Parade on Saturday
In Chinese culture, the color red means joy and good fortune.
During Lunar New Year, New Yorkers can see it everywhere in downtown Flushing, Queens — home to one of the city’s largest Chinatowns.
Red is also on display outside of the New York Hua Lian Tsu Hui Temple in College Point, Queens.
Winston Liao, who was born and raised in Flushing, is a worshipper at the temple.
“American New Year is not big at home. We celebrate Lunar New Year,” Liao said.
Liao’s parents came to New York from Taiwan. He said his religion, Taoism, and Taiwanese folk culture play an important role in his everyday life, especially though during the Lunar New Year.
“That’s the holiday that we bring the entire family together. We have a big meal. As children, that’s when our families would give us. That was the single time in the year that we would get the most money from our relatives,” he said.
It’s also big for Larry Lai, who is a regular volunteer at the temple.
Lai dresses up as the God of Wealth during the celebration, and for more than 20 years, has handed out red envelopes and sweets.
“In each of the envelopes, it contains real money. How much? I will not tell,” Lai said. “I see everybody happy, and that’s why I’m happy. I love to be distributing the red package.”
Worshipper Luis Santos was raised in New York and is of Puerto Rican descent. He said he’s digging deep this new year to become a better version of himself.
“I’m excited about refining my character, becoming a better person, I’m excited that I may be able to stay healthy,” Santos said.
Liao, who is the president of the Taiwanese-American Association of New York, also has hopes for the new year.
“With the Year of the Snake coming up, I hope that with all the turmoil that we have in our communities, all the divisions that we have, we can leave all that behind, step into the new year with a bright light, with a bright future, with a positive view on everything,” he said.
Meanwhile, back in Flushing at the Queens Public Library, director Yang Zeng put the final touches on the library’s Lunar New Year book display.
Zeng, who is Chinese-American, said these cookbooks remind her of why the holiday is such a meaningful part of her life.
“For us, fish is not just a dish, it’s also a culture, it’s a wish for abundance in all parts of life, for good health, for happiness and for prosperity,” she said.
Every year, libraries across the borough have programs for Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese community members.
“Lunar New Year is about the tradition and culture. It’s about togetherness, it’s about connection,” she said. “And that’s what we celebrate in the library, too.”
A bridge to unify cultures. And for some worshippers, a bridge to cross over, leaving any bad luck from the previous year behind — starting fresh in a new year.
The Flushing Lunar New Year Parade is happening Saturday, featuring lion and dragon dances, and is led by Mr. Met.
The Queens Public Library will be marching along with many other local groups.