Welcome to the Year of the Wood Dragon: How and Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year 2024

Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is a cherished holiday across Asia, bringing families together to feast, honor ancestors and deities, cleanse the past year's misfortunes, and embrace a new beginning filled with prosperity and good fortune.

What is the significance of Lunar New Year?

Lunar New Year stands as the most significant celebration in China and in regions with substantial ethnically Chinese populations, such as Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Thailand.

While the exact origins of Lunar New Year remain uncertain, it is believed to have first been celebrated during the Shang Dynasty (960–1279 C.E.), originally marked by sacrifices to honor deities and ancestors. This tradition has transformed significantly over the centuries into what we observe today.

The Legend of the Lunar New Year’s Origin

Like many Chinese traditions, the origins of Lunar New Year are rich in folklore. Legend has it that long ago, a fearsome monster named 'Nian'—which also means 'year' in Chinese—would emerge at the start of each year, terrorizing villagers and preying on children. One night, an elderly beggar appeared in a secluded village, seeking shelter. In exchange, he promised to protect them from Nian and began adorning the village with red paper.

When Nian arrived at midnight, it was taken aback by the sight of the red-decorated homes. The beggar, donned in red, then leaped from his hiding spot and ignited firecrackers, causing Nian to flee in fright. The villagers soon learned that the monster was scared of the color red and loud noises, prompting them to light firecrackers and wear red each year to keep the creature at bay—a tradition that spread throughout the nation.

When does Lunar New Year fall in 2024?

This year, the celebrations will kick off on February 10 and wrap up on February 24. Typically lasting about two weeks, the specific dates change annually based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar. It is generally observed on the second new moon after the winter solstice, marking the transition from winter to spring and the arrival of new life.

Lunar New Year also heralds a new cycle in Chinese astrology, with 2024 being the year of the wood dragon. The Chinese zodiac features 12 animal signs (including the pig, ox, dog, rat, rooster, tiger, monkey, rabbit, goat, dragon, horse, and snake) alongside five elemental attributes (water, earth, wood, metal, and fire). Unlike the Western zodiac, each Chinese astrological cycle spans a year, represented by both an animal and an element. For instance, 2023 was the year of the water rabbit, symbolizing hope and peace. In 2024, as the wood dragon reigns, the coming months are expected to bring health, fortune, and inner strength.

How is Lunar New Year observed?

Lunar New Year is a time for families to come together and celebrate, often marked by grand feasts featuring symbolic dishes. This annual migration of people traveling from urban work centers back to their hometowns is so significant in China that it’s referred to in Mandarin as chun yun (the spring movement) and is commonly known as the world’s largest migration.

Here are some traditional dishes you might find on the Lunar New Year table:

• Dumplings: Their distinctive shape resembles a yuanbao, or ancient Chinese gold ingot, and eating more dumplings is believed to attract wealth.
• Longevity noodles, or chang shou mian: This stir-fried noodle dish symbolizes long life; it's important to slurp the noodles without biting to avoid shortening one’s lifespan.
• A whole fish: The words for “fish” and “abundance” sound alike in Chinese, making fish a symbol of increased prosperity when served during the feast.

Yet, Lunar New Year is not solely about the food; it also involves rich rituals. People often clean their homes thoroughly and dispose of unnecessary items to rid themselves of last year's bad luck and welcome brighter days ahead. Homes are adorned with red papers featuring auspicious messages (such as “good health,” “Happy Spring Festival,” and “more wealth year after year”), known as duilian, to usher in good fortune.

The holiday also serves as a moment to remember and honor deceased family members, as well as to pay homage to Chinese deities and immortals. Before indulging in the New Year's feast, incense is lit to show respect to the gods of wealth, the kitchen, and the household. Families then light additional incense and offer food to their ancestors, often maintaining a dedicated shrine or even a room in their homes to commemorate their loved ones. Finally, red envelopes (hong bao) filled with cash gifts are presented to elder family members and children.

Where to celebrate Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year is celebrated widely across Asia and in countries with significant Chinese communities. To immerse yourself in the festivities, here are four cities where Lunar New Year is a major event.

Singapore

In this multicultural city-state, where 75 percent of the population is of Chinese descent, Lunar New Year is a major celebration. Festivities primarily take place in Singapore’s historic Chinatown, which hosts the annual Chinatown Chinese New Year Festival. Each year, vibrant red lanterns adorn the streets, accompanied by elaborate displays inspired by Chinese mythology. Attendees can expect parades, drum performances, firecrackers, and lion dances—don’t miss out on the delicious offerings from the various snack carts and food vendors present.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong (along with neighboring Macau) celebrates Lunar New Year with its own unique flair. While traditional parades, feasts, and dances abound, flowers also play a significant role in the festivities here. Each type of flower carries a distinct meaning. Orchids, popular gifts during the New Year, symbolize beauty, luxury, abundance, and fertility. Gifting a gladiolus conveys wishes for career success. Although not a flower, bamboo is also a favored present, representing good fortune; the number of stalks is significant—two stalks symbolize double luck, while five stalks represent a wish for good health.

In the days leading up to and during Lunar New Year, flower markets overflow in the streets of Hong Kong. One of the largest is the Victoria Park Flower Market, located in the bustling Causeway Bay area, featuring over 175 stalls to explore.

San Francisco

As the oldest Chinatown in North America, San Francisco hosts the largest and longest-running Lunar New Year celebration on the continent. The festivities extend beyond just one or two days; it’s a vibrant two-week celebration filled with events, including the Miss Chinatown pageant, a flower market fair, and the iconic San Francisco Chinese Parade, which draws around 3 million attendees and viewers each year.

This year, the parade is scheduled for February 24 and will showcase a variety of floats crafted by local Chinese community members, including a stunning 28-foot-long golden dragon. The festivities will commence at 5:15 p.m. at the corner of Second and Market streets, concluding around 8 p.m. at the intersection of Jackson and Kearny streets. For insights into the rich history of San Francisco’s vibrant Chinese community, be sure to visit the Chinese Historical Society of America, located in the heart of Old Chinatown.

New York City

New York City boasts more than just one Chinatown—it actually has a remarkable nine, with the Flushing neighborhood in Queens not only being the largest in New York State but also the most populous in the world. Celebrating Lunar New Year in New York offers countless opportunities. Here are some highlights to anticipate:

• Enjoy traditional lion dances and ribbon twirling at Hudson Yards on January 27 (1 p.m.), February 2 (3 p.m.), and February 10 (5 p.m.), organized by the New York Chinese Cultural Center.
• The New York Chinese Cultural Center is collaborating with the South Street Seaport Museum to host a lively Lunar New Year celebration, featuring lion dancing along with Chinese crafts and calligraphy workshops at the Seaport in downtown Manhattan.
• Visit Bushwick’s 3 Dollar Bill for an AAPI-focused drag festival featuring talents like Nymphia Ward, Angel Au, and Shia Ho. Tickets start at $50 per person.

This article was originally published online in 2023 and was most recently updated on February 8, 2024, to reflect current details.