Lunar New Year is a festival that begins with the first new moon on the lunar calendar and ends with the first full moon on the lunar calendar.
This year, Lunar New Year festivities will begin on Saturday, February 10 and will honor the Year of the Dragon. Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in Asian culture and is celebrated worldwide in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Mauritius, as well as by many in Europe and the U.S., including our own Palo Alto!
Prepare Your Home
Days before the Lunar New Year, families will often give their homes a thorough cleaning, as doing so sweeps away the bad luck of the previous year and makes their homes ready for good luck.
- Great books on Cleaning and Getting Organized
- Places to donate items you no longer need:
- Goodwill of Silicon Valley – Clothes, Household Items, Misc.
- Friends of the Palo Alto Library – Books, Movies, Puzzles, Games
- Hope Services – Clothes, Household Items, etc.
Library Events
Attend one of our special Storytime events:
- Little Ones Storytime on Wednesday, Feb. 7, opens a new window
- Family Storytime on Friday, Feb. 9, opens a new window
Lunar New Year Celebration
Bring the family to our Lunar New Year Celebration, opens a new window on Saturday, February 10 from 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM at the Palo Alto Art Center. There will be fun crafts and special performances by: Chinese opera singer Cathy Pan, local martial arts studio Taekwon Tigers, opens a new window, and Joyous Spring Lion Dance Troupe, opens a new window!
Local Events
- Gamble Gardens February Second Saturday: Lunar New Year Celebration
- 13th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration in Redwood City
- San Jose Museum of Art’s Lunar New Year Celebration
- Lunar New Year Concert at Davies Symphony Hall
-
Oakland Museum of Art celebrates Lunar New Year. Get a free ticket with your library card through Discover and Go!
PACL @ Home
- Read about Lunar New Year at home with these great books for kids and teens!
- Cook up something delicious! Explore the cuisine of countries that celebrate Lunar New Year with these cookbooks, opens a new window.
- Decorate! Find lots of great Lunar New Year crafts and activities you can do at home on our Lunar New Year board on Pinterest.
- Feeling crafty? Learn how to make a Dragon Puppet on our PACL YouTube page.
eLibrary Resources
Available with your library card!
- Find ebooks and audiobooks on Hoopla
- Read Nonfiction and fiction books paired together on Bookflix
- Learn more about dragons with Britannica School
And Don't Forget...
- If you create anything at home please share your creations with us on Instagram and tag @PaloAltoLibrary!
- Follow Us on all of our social media platforms for more information and inspiration!
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