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Xin Nian Kuai Le! Celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year
Xin Nian Kuai Le! February 19th marks the 2015 Chinese Lunar New Year. It’s the most important of Chinese holidays, kicking off a celebration that lasts for 15 days and culminates with the Lantern Festival. Each year is associated with one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. For 2015, it’s The Year of the Sheep (also known as the Goat or Ram). Here are a few great ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year:
San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade:
Just a hop, skip and jump away from your life at Bay Meadows is one of the top ten parades in the world that promises to warm your heart and electrify your senses. Experience gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions and exploding firecrackers. The newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A. with her court is a crowd favorite in the spectacular 268′ Golden Dragon. The Southwest Airlines® Chinese New Year parade will be on Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 5:15 pm stepping off at Second and Market Street. Beginning February 14th, events will take place to celebrate The Year of the Ram, visit the full calendar of events here.
Lunar New Year Celebration at the History Museum:
On Saturday, February 28th from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., the History Museum will join in Redwood City’s 5th annual celebration of the Lunar New Year. The free event includes performances on Courthouse Square and craft activities inside the History Museum. Activities inside the museum are sponsored by the Edmund and Jeannik Littlefield Foundation.
Chinese New Year Concert and Imperial Dinner:
Music, family and tradition: three things at the heart of the San Francisco Symphony’s Chinese New Year celebration. On Saturday, February 21, 2015 the Symphony will celebrate the “Year of the Ram” by hosting its annual Chinese New Year Concert. This family event includes a pre-concert Festival Reception which transforms the lobbies of Davies Symphony Hall into a Chinese festival with lion dancing, Chinese calligraphy, ribbon dancing, tea bars, children’s entertainment and “lucky” red envelopes.
Community Day: Lunar New Year at the San Jose Museum of Art:
Prepare to usher in the Year of the Sheep with one of the most popular community days on Saturday, February 7th. SJMA’s community day events take a modern approach to traditional cultural customs. This year’s activities will include live performances and hands-on art making that will get you ready for Lunar New Year.
Chinese New Year Festival at The Bay Area Discovery Museum:
Celebrate Chinese New Year on Monday, February 16th with a talented ensemble of youth and adult dancers. Enjoy delicious Chinese food for sale, as well as a variety of cultural demonstrations. You won’t want to miss the spectacular lion dancers of the Dragon Horse Lion Dance Team and the Marin Chinese Cultural Association.
Lunar New Year Celebration and Other Asian Traditions:
Don’t miss this favorite annual festival on February 22nd, as OMCA rings in the Year of the Sheep with an array of Asian traditions in arts, crafts, food, demonstrations, live music, dance, family activities, and so much more. Explore connections between the diverse Asian cultures represented in California, including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Tibetan and other Asian cultures. Enjoy live music, traditional lion and dragon dances, martial arts, storytelling, Chinese opera face painting, and hands-on art-making activities.
The 7th Spring Festival Silicon Valley (SFSV) will take place on March 1st. 2015 marks the Chinese Performing Arts of America (CPAA)’s 24th Anniversary. The theme of the 7th SFSV is Global Spring Celebration. They will present the beautiful dance and music of Chinese, Indian, Korean, Flamenco, Mexican, and others.
This year welcomes the Year of the Sheep and the beginning of a new year on the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and for other Asian cultures. The Sheep is the eighth sign in the Chinese astrological cycle. History suggests that before Buddha left this world, he invited all of the animals to join him around his table for a feast. Of all of the creatures in the land, only 12 arrived. For their loyalty and faithfulness, these animals were rewarded in perpetuity by having a year named after each of them in their order of arrival.
The 12 animals run in sequence beginning with the Rat and followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and last, but not least, the Pig.
If you were born during the Year of the Sheep…
Year of Birth: 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027.
Occupying the 8th position in the Chinese Zodiac, the Goat (or Sheep) symbolizes such character traits as creativity, intelligence, dependability, and calmness. Comfortable being alone to ponder the workings of their inner minds, Goats enjoy being part of a group, but prefer the sidelines rather than the center. Their nurturing personality makes Goats excellent care-givers. They’re quiet and reserved because they spend much time absorbed in their thoughts.
Home and alone is where Goats feel most comfortable. There they can express themselves artistically, whether it’s by painting, cooking or participating in whatever artistic endeavors they enjoy. Goats prefer the couch because there they can relax and explore their minds. They don’t need elaborate furnishings; only items reflecting their desire for art.
Sheep are compatible with Rabbits and Pigs and incompatible with the Rat and Ox. Aren’t a Sheep? You can learn more about the other Chinese Zodiac signs at Chinese Zodiac.com.
An ideally located community, Bay Meadows is only 10 minutes from Palo Alto, 20 minutes from San Francisco, and has 3 airports (SFO, OAK, SJC) within 30 miles. Bay Meadows is also located on Caltrain, which makes travel and commutes that much easier. Talk about convenient! Bay Meadows is the centralized place to reduce commutes, meet friends and play. Looking for ideas of where to ride? Check out our bike map here.