Chinese New Year is the longest and most important Chinese celebration, and on Feb 10 the year 4711 will begin. A month is reckoned by the 'lunar calendar' with each one beginning on the darkest day, while New Years festivities begin on the first of the month and lasts for 15 days.
Naming the year dates back to ancient times when 'Buddah' invited the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year, 12 came and he named each year after one of them, declaring that those born in a particular year would have some of the personalities of the animal the year was named for. This year 2013 is the "Year of the Snake" whose traits are wise, charming, gregarious, introverted, generous and smart. Visit the Chinese Zodiac calendar to find the animal your birth year is named for.
The Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival and is celebrated in countries around the world, where there are large Chinese populations. Here in Orange County, Chinese New Year is celebrated in different areas and depending on the Asian country in different ways.
The TET Festival is the largest of the Lunar year festivals and it is usually held in Garden Grove. This year from Feb. 8 - 10 it will be held at Garden Grove Park, 9031 Westminster Ave. As one of the largest TET Festivals, held outside of Vietnam, to celebrate the "year of the Snake" there will be traditional food, cultural exhibitions, entertainment and fireworks.
In Irvine on Feb. 10, from 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Children can enjoy Chinese New Year festivities at "Pretend City" children's museum where there will be a spectacular Parade, cooking up culture with traditional 'dim sum', storytelling time time to learn about the history of the 'fortune cookie' and Chinese Zodiac memory games.
Leading up to the 'Year of the Snake', Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, 2002 N. Main St. Santa Ana, will have a storytelling session on the Year of the Snake on Feb 3 from 1:30 pm - 2:15 p.m. And for seniors in Lakeview, there will be on Feb 22 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Lakeview Senior Center, 20 Lake Rd, Irvine, a Chinese New Year Celebration, sponsored by the Evergreen Chinese Senior Association, with traditional Chinese cuisine. The price is $10.00 per person and more information is available by calling 949-724-6900.
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