Pleasanton Library organizes Lunar New Year celebration at Firehouse Arts Center

Ian Cha

The dragon dance, performed by KungFu Dragon USA, represents strength and prosperity.

Ian Cha, Staff Writer
January 22, 2023

On Friday, January 20, the Pleasanton Public Library organized a Lunar New Year celebration at the Firehouse Arts Center. Celebrating the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit, the event featured several traditional performances.

“I think it’s really cool that other countries will get a new perspective on cultures from places that they don’t recognize,” said Angela Zhang (‘25).

Lunar New Year is an important holiday in Asian cultures including Chinese, Vietnamese, Mongolian, and Korean. The fifteen-day celebration falls between January 21 and February 20 and commemorates luck and prosperity for the new year.

“Every single year, we eat many traditional foods. We don’t really do much else, except giving young people like me and my brother money,” said Zachary Cheng (‘25).

Other than exchanging red packets filled with money, called ‘hongbao’ in Mandarin, there are a number of unique customs. For example, there’s cleaning the house, setting off firecrackers, eating feasts, and, of course, performing the lion dance.

Colorfully costumed performers from Xiaopei Chinese Dance School perform a variety of celebrative dances. (Ian Cha)

“Kungfu Dragon USA will be performing a traditional lion dance and Xiaopei Dance School will be performing two dances. Their performances are titled ‘New Leaves and New Blossoms’ and ‘Happy New Year!’” said Pleasanton Library PR Coordinator Nicholas Binzoni.

The lion dance, a staple of Chinese culture, dates back to the Three Kingdoms Period. Performers imitated lions imported via the Silk Roads, and this eventually became a popular dance that lives on today.

“One of our goals in the Library and Recreation department is to offer more multicultural programs. This supports our departmental value of inclusiveness and the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Binzoni.

Besides the lion dance, the celebration included retelling the Chinese Zodiac amidst singing, dancing, martial arts, and dragon dance. Thanks to these celebrations, Pleasanton is representing more cultures and traditions in its events.

“The Lunar New year is a really big part of Chinese culture. It’s probably our most important holiday,” said Cheng.