OLYMPIA, Wash. — Governor Jay Inslee signed legislation Wednesday to officially recognize Lunar New Year as a holiday in Washington
Under House Bill 2209, Lunar New Year will be a legislatively recognized holiday in Washington.
My-Linh Thai (D-Bellevue), who sponsored the legislation, said the bill acknowledges the "vibrant tapestry of cultural contributions woven by the AANHPI communities."
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Asian people represent more than 15% of the Seattle population.
“This is a momentous occasion for inclusivity and understanding,” said Thai, who immigrated to Washington as a Vietnamese refugee. “Lunar New Year is a time of joy, family reunions, and traditions shared by billions worldwide. Recognizing this day sends a clear signal to future generations that their heritage is respected and celebrated.”
The Lunar New Year is the beginning of the year based on the lunar or lunisolar calendar, which follows the moon's phases and the sun's phases at the same time.
This year's Lunar New Year celebrations ushering in the Year of the Dragon were on Feb. 10.
It begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon. Because the lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, the dates of the holiday vary slightly each year, falling between late January and mid-February.
What are the animals of the zodiac?
Each year honors an animal based on the Chinese zodiac. The circle of 12 animals — the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig — measures the cycles of time. The Vietnamese zodiac is slightly different, honoring the cat instead of the rabbit and the buffalo instead of the ox.
What are some beliefs and traditions around the Lunar New Year?
One well-known ancient legend speaks of Nian, a hideous monster that feasted on human flesh on New Year’s Day. Because the beast feared the color red, loud noises and fire, people put up red paper dragons on their doors, burned red lanterns all night and set off firecrackers to frighten and chase away the monster.
To this day, the Lunar New Year celebration is centered around removing bad luck and welcoming all that is good and prosperous. Red is considered an auspicious color to ring in the new year. In many Asian cultures, the color symbolizes good fortune and joy. People dress up in red attire, decorate their homes with red paper lanterns and use red envelopes to give loved ones and friends money for the new year, symbolizing good wishes for the year ahead. Gambling and playing traditional games is common during this time across cultures.
Ancestor worship is also common during this time. Many Korean families participate in a ritual called “charye,” where female family members prepare food and male members serve it to their ancestors. The final step of the ceremony, called “eumbok,” involves the entire family partaking the food and seeking blessings from their ancestors for the coming year. Vietnamese people cook traditional dishes and place them on a home altar as a mark of respect to their ancestors.
Some Indigenous people celebrate Lunar New Year this time of year, including members of Mexico's Purepecha Indigenous group.