Lions And Dragons And Dumplings, Oh My!

Red envelopes, lions and dragons dancing, oranges, dumplings and fireworks are just some of the traditions that are a part of the Chinese New Year.

This is the Year of the Rabbit, or more specifically, the Black Water Rabbit. The Lunar New Year begins on Jan. 22, with the first New Moon following the winter solstice and ends on Feb. 9, 2024.

The rabbit symbolizes patience and luck. Celebrations abound with some of the biggest ones around Orlando. Of course, Disney takes part, but the largest festivity is the Central Florida Dragon Parade. There’s also a multicultural festival that follows the parade that is held in Orlando’s Mills 50 district. Expect martial arts demonstrations, drummers, dragon and lion dances and of course food! New Year celebrations culminate with a Lantern Festival which is celebrated on Feb. 5. It’s a tradition believed to have begun more than 2,000 years ago.

Most large cities have Chinese New Year celebrations from coast to coast. There’s Chinatown in New York, where there is a Firecracker Ceremony and parade and San Francisco, which is billed as one of the largest celebrations in the world. Its annual parade is set for Feb. 4. So, whether you speak Cantonese “Gong hei fat choy” or Mandarin “gong xi fa cai” Happy New Year and enjoy the celebration!