BRIEFS MONTHLY NEWS LUNAR NEW YEAR

Lunar New Year celebrates the Chinese zodiac calendar that operates on a 12-year cycle, with a different animal associated with each year of the cycle. This year is the Year of the Rabbit, where the rabbit is the fourth animal in the zodiac, symbolizing grace, beauty, mercy, and good luck. Celebrating the Year of the Rabbit on Jan. 22, 2023, Asian communities worldwide gathered to hold festive traditions. Certain countries and nationalities hold culturally-specific rituals and traditions. A Chinese tradition consists of making dumplings from scratch and filling them with money coins. Because of the growing Asian population and the importance of the Lunar New Year in their cultures, politicians and Asians hope to make Lunar New Year a federal holiday.

“With Asian Americans the fastest growing population in our country, and with the popularity of the holiday continuing to grow, it makes sense to make Lunar New Year a federal holiday,” Rep. Grace Meng, vice chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and Democrat from New York, said.