It’s February. And that means Chinese New Year. Hawaii celebrates a number of holidays and events throughout the year, and Chinese New Year is no different. You can expect to see entertainment, food, a parade, and plenty of action going on in Chinatown.
History & Traditions
The Chinese hold a pretty dominant place in Hawaii, ranking the 5th largest race in the entire state. They began coming to the islands during the 19th century to help the Hawaiians in the sugar plantations. Since then, there have been more and more Chinese coming and developing their own little communities throughout the islands.
With them, they brought their traditions as well. The Chinese use a traditional zodiac calendar that rotates on a 12-year cycle. Each year is represented by an animal. This year (2018) is the year of the Dog.
Other traditions include using the color red. It is a sign of good luck and prosperity. You’ll see the Chinese wearing red clothes and hanging red lamps at the entrances of their homes. They also exchange red envelopes containing cash gifts.
Celebrations & Events
The actual date of Chinese New Year varies from year to year. It happens when the new moon falls between the 21st of January and the 20th of February. Therefore, the celebrations happen over the course of a few weeks.
This year (2018), the date of Chinese New Year is February 16th. But there will also be celebrations on February 9th and 10th. All events will be happening in Chinatown featuring live music, cultural performances, special ethnic dishes, and more. There will even be a parade of lions dancing on poles and traditional lion dance groups.
Happy New Year
Happy New Year to all of our Chinese friends. This is the start of spring. And with the new year ahead, we wish everyone good luck and prosperity.
Image By: Peakpx
