This blog post was originally published in 2025 and has been updated to reflect current information.
My Memories of Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year brings memories of my time with my grandpa in Taiwan, when we remembered ancestors, set off rounds of firecrackers, and walked my new rabbit lantern in the park. It was a time of visits from family and friends, during which we celebrated with food and fun. Now, in the U.S., we can replicate the same excitement in our communities with friends and families by trying out new foods, visiting new restaurants, and stepping out into our local communities to see the festivities.
Lunar New Year @ SJPL
At SJPL, we will be hosting special Lunar New Year Storytimes throughout the city. Check the times for your local branch. Many branches will be hosting lion dances and craft programs. Santa Clara County Parks will be hosting Lunar New Year at Casa Grande, a local Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum, where you can discover local Chinese history in the hills south of San Jose. Another free family event is Lunar New Year of the Horse at History San Jose.
Yummy Food and Cookbooks for Lunar New Year
Chinese families on New Year's Eve get together for a big and special meal with fish and all sort of delicacies. You will find many families celebrating at the local restaurants. Some families have special foods that they eat around New Year's. My family enjoys dumplings. My mother-in-law will start making dumplings weeks ahead in preparation for the New Year time, so that we can all relax and visit and not worry about cooking because we have dumplings to enjoy. Other families may have their special dishes they may make in advance to prepare for the season. For you, you can visit the local Chinese grocery store and check out the seasonal candies and snacks available to gift families and friends or just browse around to see the wide assortment of vegetables, fish, and meat available as families get ready. You can find some Chinese cookbooks at the library to try making your own Chinese dish. How about Hot and Sour soup? Or maybe an egg drop chicken corn soup? Here are some recipe books to look at.
The Chinese Kitchen by Eileen Yin-Fei Lo
The Guide to Chinese Cooking by Handa Cheng
The Woks of Life by Bill Leung
My Asian Kitchen by Martin Yan
Simply Chinese by Suzie Lee
The Wok by J. Kenji López-Alt
Chinese Soul Food by Hsiao-Ching Chou
The Book of Sichuan Chili Crisp by Jing Gao
Feasts of Good Fortune by Chou, Hsiao-Ching
The Asian Hot Pot Cookbook by Kimoto-Kahn, Amy
Lantern Festival (Yuan Xiao Jie) March 3, 2026
Lunar New Year, in China, and for the Chinese diaspora lasts fifteen days and ends with the Lantern Festival or Yuan Xiao Jie. This last day is marked by fireworks and lanterns. Families go out at night to celebrate and eat tang yuan or yuan xiao, round mochi in a sweet soup to celebrate the holiday. Because this year Lunar New Year begins on Tuesday, February 17, the day after Presidents' day, the Lunar New Year extends into March and ends on March 3. Some picture books about the Lantern Festival and Lunar New Year to share with your family are:
Logan's Lantern by Lucy Tandon Copp
Amy Wu and the Lantern Festival by Kat Zhang
Tray of Togetherness by Flo Leung
Maisy's Chinese New Year by Lucy Cousins
The Lunar New Year Surprise by Jade Wang
Chloe's Lunar New Year by Lily LaMotte
The Chinese New Year Helper by Ying Chang Compestine
Dragon Noodle Party by Ying Chang Compestine
Traditional Lunar New Year Books
Or maybe, you can discover the traditional stories surrounding the holiday, such as why children receive red envelopes, or why firecrackers are set off at the beginning of the year. Or maybe, you can learn more about the Chinese zodiac, and the twelve animals that represent the twelve years.
Nian, the Chinese New Year Dragon by Virginia Loh-Hagan
The Nian Monster by Andrea Wang
No Year of the Cat by Mary Dodson Wade
The Monster on Chinese New Year's Eve by Xin Lin
Nian chu xi by Xin Lin
Yuan xiao jie by Zaozao Wang
The Twelve Animals of the Chinese Zodiac by Vivian Ling
A Kid's Guide to the Chinese Zodiac by Aaron Hwang
This year, of all years, choose to do something special for Lunar New Year, because this year, it falls during winter break for many children. Find a story to share with your child, visit a special event, or choose to make something to celebrate the season. The Year of the Horse represents change, independence, and bravery. Make a change and step out in bravery. We hope this new year brings blessings and prosperity to all.
Add a comment to: Bringing Home Lunar New Year