As the first month of 2025 draws to a close, a pivotal time approaches for many East and Southeast Asian cultures that follow the lunar calendar — the new lunar year. This year, the Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 29, and it will usher in the Year of the Wood Snake, representing the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac. Just like the animal it symbolizes, the year encourages introspection, grounded transformation and adaptability.
This year, the Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 29, and it will usher in the Year of the Wood Snake, representing the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac. Just like the animal it symbolizes, the year encourages introspection, grounded transformation and adaptability.
On Jan. 30, the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture will be hosting a Lunar New Year celebration from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Held at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, admission is free and open to the public, with free event parking available at the 52 Oxford Street Garage.
Other than exploring the museum’s galleries and other scientific activities, attendees will be able to create a paper lantern to celebrate the Lunar New Year under the guidance of Cambridge-based artist Zhonghe (Elena) Li. Attendees can purchase hot chocolate, churros and other beverages for nourishment throughout the night.
The Museum of Fine Arts will also be hosting their Lunar New Year celebration Jan. 30. There will be special pay-what-you-wish pricing, with a $5 minimum for general admission. Between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., guests can explore the museum’s rich collection of Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese art while participating in the many cultural activities hosted within the various areas, such as a sebae and hanbok demonstration.
In the Shapiro Family Courtyard, original silk paintings by Xiang Li depicting Chinese empresses from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties will be on display until 8:30 p.m., alongside an array of thrilling performances. Disciples from the Boston-based Vietnamese martial arts school Vovinam Quang Trung will kick off the night with a traditional lion dance, followed by traditional dance performances depicting Northern Vietnamese heritage and legacy by S.T.A.R. Group Boston and Little S.T.A.R. Group.
Guests can later enjoy a unique ensemble performance of Korean traditional music from the Gyeonggi and Seodo regions, as well as a snake dance by Gund Kwok Asian Women’s Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe — the United States’s first all-Asian and all-female lion and dragon dance troupe. This particular performance is aptly-choreographed and unique in nature, featuring eight lions consisting of children and adult lion dancers.
From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 1, Ming Hui Academy Boston will be celebrating Lunar New Year at the Cambridge Public Library in Harvard Square. Located within the Lecture Hall, there will be recitations, dance and play performances, lantern riddle games, traditional brush writing and tasting of Lunar New Year foods. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome to come.
As it usually is during the new year, Chinatown will be abound with festivities and memorable experiences to recognize the upcoming lunar year.
The first of the festivities is its Chinese New Year Pop-up Market, which runs until Jan. 28. Offering a diverse selection of goods, vendors sell flowers, tangerines and oranges, Chinese New Year decorations, Chinese candies, bamboo and money plants. The market is open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and can be found at the Chinatown Trade Center.
Chinatown’s largest and central celebration is its Chinese New Year Cultural Village, held Feb. 9 from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m. Visitors will find themselves greeted with a vibrant and captivating Lion Dance parade as they traverse the streets, accompanied by other live performances. During the celebration, visitors can also experience Chinese calligraphy and writing lessons, create handmade dough characters, engage in arts and crafts, fold origami and try traditional Chinese foods.
With Lunar New Year being a vital heritage celebration for various cultures in East and Southeast Asia, offering varied celebratory events around the surrounding area allows it to be honored in kind.