Golden Dragon Parade 2020. Photo by Mike Watt.
Lunar New Year celebrations in L.A.’s Chinatown usually last for three days, but the Lunar New Year this year runs from today, February 12, 2021 to February 26, 2021. Chinese New Year, Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year, celebrates the new year on the lunisolar calendar, the beginning of Spring, and the end of Winter.
As we all know, the parades and festivals have been cancelled this year, but here are a few ways you can still usher in the Year of the Ox:
VIRTUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVALS
The Port of Los Angeles will be Presenting a virtual Lunar Festival. You can post wishes virtually on your computer and enjoy pictures of past celebrations. You can watch the virtual fireworks here:
Houston Chinese’s Community Center will be offering three days of livestreamed events, which can be watched afterwards at any time. Yesterday they taught dumpling making and highlighted regional delicacies from China, Vietnam, and Korea. Today’s livestream featured dragon and lion dances, kung fu demonstrations, cultural dances, and musical performances. Tomorrow’s livestream teaches “Customs and Traditions through Art” art using the art of calligraphy and lantern making, among others. DAY THREE.
GET THE KIDS INVOLVED!
The Chalk Academy is offering craft ideas, printable decorations and pages to color, children’s book recommendations, songs, and links to educational videos.
GET COOKING!
A friend recommended making authentic Hot and Sour Soup from Maggie Zhu’s blog, Omnivore’s Cookbook. Get the recipe here, and watch the video:
If you have trouble finding any of the ingredients, go to Weee! Asian Grocery DeliveryShanghai Rose Dim Sum – Upscale Dim Sum Restaurant in Studio City.
EAT SOME DIM SUM!
Dumplings are traditional on Lunar New Year, of course we eat them all day every day. Here are some favorite places:
Lunasia Dim Sum House in Pasadena
N B C Seafood in Monterey Park
Also enjoy other lucky foods like whole fish or chicken, spring rolls, noodles and oranges.
WATCH FILMS AND VIDEOS!
AsianAmericanMovies.com and The Slants Foundation are launching the Asian American Music Video Fest (#AAMVFest) on February 12, 2021. AAMVFest features “On The Verge Asian American artists and talent and is free to stream for the world. Each season of AAMV Fest will feature eight music videos by up-and-coming Asian American artists with an introduction by Simon Tam, founder of The Slants and The Slants Foundation. AAM.tv offers a curated slate of acclaimed Asian American movies, documentaries, short films and shows for you on the go. It is available on the web and via Android and iOs devices.
Enjoy some of the best Chinese films for a movie marathon off of this list by The Honeycombers. and from China Whisper’s Top Ten List.
VIDEOS YOU CAN WATCH RIGHT HERE!
silent compilation of Lunar celebrations around the world
Da Shuhua, a 500-year-old tradition that first began in the Nuanquan village of China allowed this town to celebrate even though they didn’t have the traditional Lunar New Year fireworks. Blacksmiths toss molten iron against walls, creating showers of sparks.
An indepth documentary:
I know the dragon gets all of the attention, but I LOVE lion dancers:
MORE
Check out your lunar new year horoscope here!
Run in Chinatown’s virtual Firecracker 10k!
Listen to the Top songs for Chinese New Year 2021
,
nijna