If you’re anything like the rest of us, you probably made your New Year’s resolution about a month ago; be it swearing to eat healthier or vowing to start that DYI project you’ve been thinking about for weeks. If you’re even more like the rest of us, you may have had a little bit of a challenge getting started on that resolution.
Need some fresh inspiration?
Look no further than then the Chinese New Year; a 15 day long celebration of luck and good fortune that will bring you just the motivation you need.
Commonly referred to as the Chinese New Year in America, the holiday is actually known in China as the spring festival or Lunar New Year. In Boston, there are many different opportunities to celebrate this colorful and energetic holiday.
Stop by the Museum of Fine Arts’ Lunar New Year Celebration on February 8th at 10am. There will be plenty of family-friendly activities, such as interactive demos of Chinese martial arts, Korean bowing ceremonies, guided tours of the Art of Asia Galleries, and art activities. Admission is free.
Attend the Lion Dance Parade on February 9th from 11am to 5pm. The parade begins on Beach Street and continues on to other nearby streets in Chinatown. Come see the brightly colored costumes of the lion dancers and hear traditional Chinese music. The lion dancers portray the half-dragon, half-lion monster called “Nian” that comes out of hiding during the Lunar New Year. According to legend, Nian’s weakness is loud noise, thus firecrackers and fireworks used to scare Nian away and can be heard all throughout Lunar New Year.
Test out your taste buds and grab some authentic Chinese cuisine. Jo Jo Taipei in Allston provides high quality Taiwanese cuisine and is known for offering some of the best Tai Pei in the greater Boston area. Mary Chung, located in Cambridge, specializes in tender duck and spicy eggplant dishes and is a favorite among MIT students in the area.
