Happy Lunar New Year, John!
In 2023, Lunar New Year is the Year of the Rabbit; in Vietnam, it's the Year of the Cat! This 2023 Lunar New Year is associated with grace, compassion, and good fortune. We mourn the tragic loss of life from the attack over the weekend and hold the victims and their loved ones in our hearts. May the values our community holds dear and which are reflected in our Lunar New Year traditions continue to bind us together during this difficult time.
Lunar New Year marks a significant holiday in many Asian cultures. It marks the first day of the lunar calendar and is a time for families and friends to gather, celebrate, and honor their ancestors. The holiday is often celebrated with traditional customs, such as lighting fireworks, giving red envelopes filled with money as gifts, Lion Dance parades, and an assortment of special foods.
One of the best parts of the Lunar New Year is the emphasis on community and culture. It's a time for loved ones to come together and celebrate their shared heritage and traditions. It's also a time for people to reflect on their cultural identities and how they can preserve and pass on their cultural traditions to future generations.
See local Lunar New Year Celebrations
This 2023 year is also a historic moment for the Vietnamese-American community in Oregon, as voters elected 5 Democrat Vietnamese-American state representatives to serve in the State Legislature. This is a significant achievement for the Vietnamese-American community and highlights the importance of diversity and representation in government.
