Families enjoy educational Lunar New Year celebration

TROY — The Troy Public Library provided an opportunity for families to learn more about the Lunar New Year through a celebratory event that occurred in the library’s “Story & Craft” room Jan. 29.

According to the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, Lunar New Year celebrates the return of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. The holiday is significant for those in China, South Korea and Vietnam, as well as other parts of the world.

Paper lanterns and various meals and treats can be expected as families come together to celebrate and manifest good luck for the new year.

“Lunar New Year is placed in the beginning of the lunar calendar,” YJ Shimamura, an associate of the Troy Public Library, said. “The lunar calendar is based on the phases of the moon.”

The Chinese Zodiac animals can play a significant role in the celebrations. Out of the 12 zodiac animals, 2025 falls under the year of the snake.

“Each Lunar New Year celebrates the annual sign of the year,” Shimamura said. “So the Chinese Zodiac has 12 animals for each year. After 12 years the animals repeat.”

At the start of the library’s Lunar New Year event, Shimamura explained what Lunar New Year is about and read the book “Playing with Lanterns” by Wang Yage to the children, parents and guardians present. The book follows a young girl, Zhao Di and her friends, as they prepare to celebrate the new year with their paper lanterns.

After that, attendees could learn how to make a colorful paper snake craft.

“I wanted to make something simple that they can enjoy,” Shimamura said.

Matal Malde came with her son and found out about the event through the library’s website. Malde and her family have also participated in Japanese classes, events about making sushi, book clubs, Lego and Minecraft groups, and other art events associated with the library.

“We regularly follow what’s coming up,” Malde said. “We do age and grade-appropriate events here.”

Ivana Tornero came with her children and found out about the event through flyers from the library.

“We love to teach our kids about different cultures,” Tornero said. “We’re very engrossed and engaged in this event, and we’re really liking the colorful aspects and cool results of this craft.”

Trammie Casianov saw the event on the library’s Facebook page and brought her kids to the event.

“It’s cute,” Casianov said. “We love doing events with different cultures.”

For more information, visit troypl.org.