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Happy Lunar New Year!

Kishi Chikudō (1826-1897), Sitting Tiger, ink and color on paper, Minneapolis Institute of Art

On February 1st, we welcome the new lunar Year of the Water Tiger. Throughout East Asia, this festive occasion is celebrated with a variety of things and actions to encourage good health and prosperity in the coming year. While there are regional variations, the primary activities are cleaning one’s home, hanging red decorations for good luck, offering respect to one’s ancestors, visiting family, lighting firecrackers to ward off demons, gifting money in red packets to children and subordinates, and eating lots of food. Edibles that are thought to bring good fortune are fish, which is synonymous in Chinese with “surplus”; dumplings in the shape of silver ingots to ensure prosperity; and niangao, which symbolizes advancement in the New Year. Conversely, anything that might risk losing the holiday’s good luck, such as washing one’s hair or sweeping the floor, is avoided. This two-week celebration ends with the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the New Year.

People born in the year of the tiger are considered brave, strong, confident, and well-liked, although they can be impetuous and irritable. These traits are well expressed in artistic depictions of these powerful creatures. To celebrate the Year of the Tiger, beginning on February 1st, AWNY will post a different art work of a tiger, drawn from our members’ collections, on our Instagram and Red (小红书) social media accounts. Follow us as we get the year off to a roaring start!

Chinese Carved Soapstone Figure of the Lohan Pindola Bharadvaja, ca. 1700, H. 3 1/2 x L. 4 in.,
Ralph M. Chait Galleries

Join AWNY Members for Lunar New Year Events

The Nelson-Atkins Museum, Lunar New Year at the Nelson-Atkins
January 20-February 7
Selection of online videos and family activities, as well as live tours and programs
Read more, click here

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Insider Insights-Celebrating the Year of the Tiger
Saturday, January 29
English: 10-10:10am
Mandarin: 10:30-10:40am
Free online presentations by Curator Jason Sun
Read more, click here

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Virtual Lunar New Year Festival
Saturday, January 29, 10am-5pm
Free online program of performances, interactive activities, and artist-led workshops for all ages
Read more, click here

China Institute, Chinese New Year Online Family Festival
Saturday, January 29, 10am-12pm
Free interactive online family festival with cartooning, art workshops, and story time activities
Read more, click here

Asia Society, Celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Tiger
Saturday, January 29, 1-3:30pm
An online family program of stories, music, dance, and puppets
Read more, click here

National Museum of Asian Art, Lunar New Year’s Eve Reunion Dinner: Holiday-Inspired Cooking Demos
Monday, January 31, 6-7pm
Free online program
Read more, click here

San Antonio Museum of Art, Online Art to Lunch: Year of the Tiger
Thursday, February 3, 12:30-1:30pm CST/1:30-2:30pm EST
Online exploration of the collection as related to the lunar new year
Read more, click here

Charles B. Wang Center, Celebrating the Lunar New Year with
Special Rice Cake Soup

Wednesday, February 16, 1-3pm
Stony Brook University, Skylight Gallery Lobby
Live presentation by Kim’C Market
Read more, click here

China Institute, Chinese New Year Online Variety Show 2022
Tuesday, February 8, 7:30-8:30pm
Online event with music, drums, and a Year of the Tiger Talk
Read more, click here

Charles B. Wang Center, Celebrating Lunar New Year: The Year of Tiger Performances
Friday, March 4, 6-7pm
Stony Brook University, Theatre
Live presentation by the New York Chinese Culture Center
Read more, click here