Southern California rings in 2026 Lunar New Yr – NBC Los Angeles
The 2026 Lunar New Yr formally started world wide on Tuesday and in Southern California, colourful gatherings ushered within the annual celebration of excellent luck and prosperity.
The Lunar New yr relies on the lunar calendar, which is why it falls on a special day annually. This yr, it’s the Yr of the Horse within the Chinese language zodiac, which symbolizes vitality and energy.
The LA Chinese language Chamber of Commerce says 1.5 million households have a good time the Lunar New Yr in Southern California.
A few of these households gathered on Tuesday — many carrying purple for good luck — on the Asian Backyard Mall in Westminster, which hosted its Lunar New Yr Firecracker Present, full with firecrackers, music, and lion dances.
The Lunar New Yr is all about welcoming luck, and there’s no efficiency that represents prosperity in Asian cultures extra so than the lion dance.
Over at Qua Modern Chinese language Delicacies in Fountain Valley, a vibrant and festive efficiency kicked off the Lunar New Yr by ushering out unhealthy spirits and welcoming the nice.
“[Lunar New Year is] when the households get collectively — have a good time new yr and one another — and desires one another a number of good luck for the brand new yr,” Iva Ha, CEO of Kei Ideas instructed NBC Los Angeles.
“My hopes are to dwell a wholesome, lengthy life,” native Monica Nguyen instructed NBCLA. “Achieve success.”
In Little Saigon, tons of of households have been dressed to the nines for the vacation, together with the Do household. They make an annual journey to LA from New Jersey to have a good time the Lunar New Yr with their prolonged household.
“It’s actually the one time we see our household every year,” Sydney Do instructed NBCLA. “ We have now household touring from Buffalo, New York [and] New Jersey. Our grandparents dwell right here, so all of us come collectively.”
“We attempt to preserve the custom alive,” added Kenneth Do.
Loca Khoi Dinh is celebrating Tết, the celebration marking Vietnamese Lunar New Yr.
“It’s crucial as a result of it’s custom,” Dinh mentioned. “That is the time the place we replicate time for our ancestors, our household; we pray for greatest needs and well being, happiness, and prosperity.”
A part of Lunar New Yr custom is purple envelopes, typically crammed with cash to welcome prosperity within the new yr. Revelers may eat sure meals, like noodles for an extended life, and fish and dumplings to characterize well being and luck.
If you wish to have a good time the Lunar New Yr in Los Angeles this weekend or subsequent weekend, listed here are just a few native occasions:
- 127th Annual Golden Dragon Parade | Saturday, Feb. 21, 1-4 p.m. | Chinatown Central Plaza in Chinatown
- 12th Annual Port of Los Angeles Lunar New Yr Celebration | Saturday, Feb. 21, 3-7 p.m. | CRAFTED on the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro
- LA Chinatown Firecracker Run | Saturday, Feb. 28, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., and March 1, 6 a.m.-10 a.m. | North Broadway, Chinatown
- Lunar New Yr Household Village Celebration | Saturday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Northridge Park
