Wishes to all for a Happy New Year of the Monkey! In 2016 the Chinese New Year begins today 08 February and lasts through 27 February. I’ve gathered together some guides for celebrating, which includes various traditions practiced in Asian households around the world and my fun Chinese New Year collection at Pinterest.
The Year of the Monkey stamp is the ninth of twelve stamps in the Celebrating Lunar New Year series. The stamp art depicts two bright reddish orange peonies against a purple background. Peonies symbolize wealth and honor in Chinese culture and often decorate the sides of the traditional drums played during the holiday festivities. Artist Kam Mak created this original painting. Art director and stamp designer Ethel Kessler incorporated elements from the previous series of Lunar New Year stamps — Clarence Lee’s intricate cut-paper design of a monkey and the Chinese character for “monkey,” drawn in grass-style calligraphy by Lau Bun — to create continuity between the stamps in the series.
The Telegraph shares plenty of general information about celebrating the New Year and London-specific information too.
This New Year is particularly special for New York City Asians because for the first time in history, NYC public schools will be closed in honor of the holiday. Asians make up 1/6 of the city’s 1.1 million student body.
Celebrating the Chinese New Year in New York City:
Timeout’s Guide to festivities
MommyPoppins has a fabulous list of activities
(Gong Xi Fa Cai) friends!