Grand Prairie Celebrates Lunar New Year

Published on January 29, 2025

Lunar New Year 2025 by Getty Images

The City of Grand Prairie is proud to recognize Lunar New Year. Here is a guide to understanding its cultural significance, and how it's traditionally celebrated.

What is Lunar New Year?

Wednesday, January 29th marks the start of the year of the wood snake in several Asian countries.  It’s based on the lunisolar calendar, a system of measuring time in which the first day of each month is recognized by a new moon.  After 12 cycles, a new year begins.

According to the Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition (AAPIC) of UC San Francisco, around two billion people celebrate Lunar New Year around the world.

The Year of the Wood Snake

According to the AAPIC, there are 12 animals; each with its own attributes and characteristics in the Chinese zodiac. These 12 animals coincide with the lunar calendar and fall in a 12-year cycle. 

The order of the Chinese Zodiac, according to the AAPIC is as follows:

  • Rat
  • Ox (in China) or Buffalo (in Vietnam) 
  • Tiger
  • Rabbit (in China) or Cat (in Vietnam)
  • Dragon
  • Snake
  • Horse
  • Goat
  • Monkey
  • Rooster
  • Dog
  • Pig

While these follow a 12-year cycle, each iteration coincides with the elements earth, metal, water, wood, and fire, depending on the year.

FIND YOUR CHINESE ZODIAC HERE

Jonathan H.X. Lee, a professor of Asian and Asian American folklore, religions and culture at San Francisco State University explained the significance of the wood snake in an article published in Axios San Francisco.

Because wood is associated with both trees and fire, the wood snake features qualities that represent both of those characteristics such as growth and tolerance but also passion and brightness, according to Lee.  The snake can also represent the potential for self-cultivation and is often seen as mysterious and intelligent.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WOOD SNAKE HERE

How is Lunar New Year Celebrated?

Different regions have different traditions, but Lunar New Year is often celebrated from the first new moon of the year through the first full moon that month. 

Common traditions include, sharing meals with loved ones, cleaning your homes to get rid of bad luck and setting off fireworks (but don’t do that in Grand Prairie without a permit, please.)

Where Can You Celebrate Lunar New Year in Grand Prairie?

You can celebrate Lunar New Year at work, and in your own homes, by learning about Asian cultures.

Grand Prairie's Asia Times Square features a number of celebrations throughout January.  On the 1st and 2nd of February, the venue will host a fireworks display as well as lion and dragon dance performances.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASIA TIMES SQUARE

You can also catch a lion dance performance Saturday, February 8 at 10:00 a.m. at the Warmack Library.

LUNAR NEW YEAR AT WARMACK LIBRARY

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