‘Gung Hay Fat Choy! ~ Best Wishes and Congratulations!’

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The Chinese New Year is an important traditional Chinese Holiday that is celebrated on the first day of the year of the Chinese calendar. In China, the New Year is also known as the Spring Festival and traditionally, the festival was a time to honor deities as well as ancestors.

The Chinese New Year celebrations traditionally run from Chinese New Year’s Eve, the last day of the last month of the Chinese calendar, to the 15th day of the first month. The Chinese New year never falls on the same date two years in a row and can fall on any date between January 21 and February 20.

The New Year for 2020 is January 25 and ends February 8. This year marks the ‘Year of the Rat’ (more info). Rats are cleaver, quick thinkers; successful, but content with living a quiet and peaceful life. In Chinese culture, rats were seen as a sign of wealth and surplus. Because of their reproduction rate, married couples also prayed to them for children.

The Chinese New Year will kick off with a live Lion dance in Chinatown on Chinese New Year’s Eve, January 24, where there will be fireworks, the sounds of drums, dancers and much more. Throughout the city, there will be traditional Chinese performances, educational experiences and Chinese food events in the next few weeks in honor of the Lunar New Year. Come celebrate the Chinese New Year with your friends and family, exploring an unique culture.

FYI – There will be early celebrations at the Penn Museum on January 18, at the Reading Terminal Market on January 18 a Chinese dumpling making event on January 19 and Luna New Year at The Rotunda January 22. The information is below.

List of Chinese New Year Celebrations in Philly

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• Luna New Year at The Rotunda

January 6 – 31 ~ FREE – Held at the Fashion District Philadelphia at 901 Market Street. Explore the dazzling decorations throughout the Fashion district, to include lanterns, a giant hanging dragon and a lantern tunnel inside the space. There’s also a wishing well for folks to write down their wishes for the incoming Year of the Rat. On Sunday, January 19, from 12 pm – 5 pm, visitors can head to the District for an afternoon-long celebration featuring two dragon dances, a special tasting at Pei Wei, live music, giveaways and acrobatic performances. For more details, Click Here.

• Ch inese New Year Celebration at the Penn Museum

January 18 ~ 10 am – 5 pm at Penn Museum at 3260 South Street. Asian Arts Initiative helps host this annual celebration of the Lunar New Year with dance, martial arts, music, craft-making, calligraphy, storytelling and a grand finale lion dance. ~ Lunar New Year at the Penn Museum ~

• Celebrate the Chinese New Year at Reading Terminal Market

January 18 ~ FREE – From 10 am to 1 pm at Center Court at the Reading Terminal Market, guests can watch cooking demos, Chinese Instrument performance, calligraphy, crafts, and the lion dance by the Philadelphia Suns. ~ Lunar New Year at Reading Terminal Market ~

• Chinese Dumpling Making at the Dumpling Academy

January 19 & 26 ~ From 10 am to 1 pm. Held at 1017 Arch Street. Cost $75. Vegan Dumplings Only! Guests will enjoy a fun DIY dumpling evening. – learn to make your own dumplings! Click on the link for details: ~ Chinese Dumpling Making ~

• Luna New Year at The Rotunda

January 22 ~ FREE for people of color. $5 – $10 sliding scale. Starts at 6 pm. Held at The Rotunda at 4014 Walnut Street. FORTUNE, a monthly publication by and for the Asian queer community that advocated for intersectional communities of color, celebrates the Year of The Rat with the release of a double-issue and a festival at The Rotunda in West Philly. The event features performances, crafts and plenty of food. For more details, Click Here.

• New Year’s Eve Lion Dance Performance

January 24~ FREE – On Chinese New Year’s Eve, starting at 11:30 pm at 10th and Race Streets, the Philadelphia Suns Lion Dance Troupe will perform a lion dance which will start at 10th and Race streets and wind through the streets of Chinatown. As mentioned, there will be dancers, drums, firecrackers and more. ~ For Info about the Midnight Lion Dance ~

• Ch inese New Year Celebration at the Elmwood Park Zoo

January 25 ~ Noon – 1 pm at Elmwood Park Zoo at 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown. Cost included with zoo admission. Meet the animals of the Chinese zodiac during this celebration of the Year of the Rat! Enjoy crafts and an opportunity for little ones to try on a dragon mask. ~ Lunar New Year at the Elmwood Park Zoo ~

• Luna New Year at Independence Seaport Museum

January 25 ~ 1 pm – 3 pm. Held at Independence Seaport Museum. Guests will create your own rotating calendar to explore the differences — and similarities — between calendars used across the seas. Try your hand at calligraphy with Robert Hsu, cleanse your spirit and usher in good luck with water-based New Year’s traditions from around the world. and more. The celebration is included with regular Museum admission. For more details, Click Here.

• Luna New Year at The Please Touch Museum

January 25 ~ 1:30 pm – 2 pm. Cost included with museum admission. Held at the Please Touch Museum at 4231 Avenue of the Republic. Listen to stories, sing songs and more. For more details, Click Here.

• Ch inese New Year Celebration at Dilworth Park

January 25 ~ 5 pm – 9 pm at Dilworth Park at 1 S. 15th Street. Master Matt Zhang, a local martial arts instructor, will kick off the evening’s live entertainment at 5:30 pm with an immersive Kung Fu and Tai Chi performance. At 7 pm, Chinatown’s own Philadelphia Suns will put on a traditional lion dance show, complete with a prancing dragon. Sparkler effects, an Asian-inspired menu and other surprises are planned throughout the evening. Guests are encouraged to ice skate on the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink. Lucky red envelopes containing secret prizes will be given to the first 50 guests. ~ Chinese New Year Celebration at Dilworth Park ~

• Chinese New Year Dim Sum Brunch at Buddakan

January 26 ~ From 10 am to 2:30 pm at Buddakan in Old City. Enjoy special lion dancer performances, red envelopes with fortunes and riddles, traditional Chinese décor and menu specials in addition to their a la carte menu, that will complete this festive one-time brunch experience. ~ Call for reservations: (215) 574-9440. For details, Click Here.

• The Philadelphia Suns Lion Dance Parade

January 26 ~ From 11 am – 3 pm at 10th, Race and Spring Streets, the festivities will continue throughout Chinatown with firecrackers, martial arts performances, the Philadelphia Suns’ lion dance, and so much more to welcome in the Chinese New Year. For details, click here.

• Luna New Year at The Please Touch Museum

January 26 ~ 12:30 pm – 1 pm. Cost included with museum admission. Held at the Please Touch Museum at 4231 Avenue of the Republic. Dance with lions by Penn Lions and more. For more details, Click Here.

• Chinese New Year Dinner at Bing Bing Dim Sum

January 28 ~ 5:30 pm – 9:45 pm. $50 per person plus tax & gratuity. Held at Bing Bing Dim Sum on 1648 E Passyunk Ave in East Passyunk. Enjoy a memorable meal such as roast pork BAO, Cantonese style steamed fish, Rutabega noodles and more! For reservations, call (215) 279-7702. For details, Click Here.

• Chinese New Year Celebration at FREE Library of Philadelphia

February 1 ~ FREE – From 10 am to 3:30 pm in their Grand Lobby at the Free Library of Philadelphia. Guests can experience the famed Lion Dance, martial arts, folk music, Chinese opera, and the dances of different ethnic groups throughout China. A tea ceremony and flower arrangement show will highlight the beauty and harmony of cultural exchanges and collaborations. ~ Chinese New Year Celebration at Free Library of Philadelphia ~

• Lunar New Year At Rail Park

February 8 ~ FREE – From 12 pm to 3 pm at The Rail Park at 1300 Nobel Street aka North Broad Street & Noble Street. The Rail Park hosts a Hong Kong-style Lunar New Year celebration to where guests can shop at a Philly-style flower market, sip on brews from Triple Bottom Brewery and enjoy some family activities. Enjoy a lion dance from 2 pm – 3 pm, courtesy of the Philadelphia Suns. For more details, Click Here.

• PCDC’s Chinese New Year Banquet

February 21 ~ From 5:30 pm to 9 pm, the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC) will be celebrating the Year of the Rat on Friday at the Crane Center at 1001 Vine Street in Chinatown. PCDC hosts this annual fundraiser to help sustain the organization. The funds raised from this banquet will support their work and mission. For details, click here.

Main Photo Courtesy of KCBrownPhotography.com