David Victor Vector: Year of the Green Wood Ram/Sheep/Goat: Lunar New Year Celebrations Around the World 2015

Chinese New Year Celebration, London, England

Thursday, February 19, 2015 begins the Year of the

yáng, which can mean either the Year of the Ram, Sheep or Goat. It is the beginning of the year 4712 (in some traditions, 4713) in the Asian lunar system, which is the Year of the Green Wooden Ram/Sheep/Goat.

This post covers Lunar New Year celebrations around the world for 2015.The post first indicates where the Lunar New Year is an official state holiday. The post then goes on to share the wide range of events taking place outside of those countries. The listing here gives 153 major celebrations (parades, galas or other celebrations) for the Year of the Ram/Sheep/Goat in 22 countries beyond where it is officially part of the tradition. Of these, 71 are in the United States, 19 in Canada, 17 in the United Kingdom, 14 in France, 13 in Australia, 4 in New Zealand, and 3 each in the Netherlands, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia, with the others spread across the globe.

That said, you may also be interested in reading three related posts on

1) Lunar New Year Customs around the world at
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/one-new-year-many-traditions-lunar-new.html

2) Year of the Ram/Sheep/Goat Some Background with the specifics for the character traits of those born in the Year of the Ram/Sheep/Goat in general and specifics for 2015 as the Year of the Wooden Ram/Sheep/Goatin particular. This post also explains whether this is the Year of the Ram, the Year of the Sheep or the Year of the Goat. You can read this at http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2014/12/year-of-goatsheepram-some-background.html

and

3) Year of the Ram/Sheep/Goat: Business Impact . This post covers the business effects from travel to special editions of coins, stamps and gifts for the Lunar New Year around the world. http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2015/01/year-of-sheep-business-impact.html

A TIME OF SLOW DOWNS AND TIME OFFS

The Asian Lunar New Year is a public holiday with varying lengths in several countries.

Many Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Bhutanese and Mongolian communities unofficially are closed for the entire New Year’s week (including the preceding or following weekends in many cases). The dates of observance for Tet in Vietnam and Seol in Korea may extend well beyond the official dates as well, especially in rural areas. This somewhat parallels the slowing or shutting down of work and school for Christmas in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Americas.

OFFICIAL STATE HOLIDAYS

The Asian New Year in various countries is officially recognized by the state in 15 countries, as follows:

Bhutan

Bhutan: Officially off for Losar but the dates are not officially specified. As some festivities last up to 15 days, this means that the time when things are open or closed is somewhat unclear for about two weeks.

Brunei

Brunei: The first Day of Lunar New Year is an official holiday. If that date lands on a Friday (the Islamic day off), the official observance is moved to the next day on Saturday. It is significant that the Chinese and Vietnamese in Brunei are only a minority, but the state still recognizes the first day of the Asian New Year as a sign of respect to an important minority population.

Christmas Island

Christmas Island: Christmas Island is a territory of Australia, and not a full country. Still, since (unlike Australia), the territory recognizes the first two days of the Lunar New Year as an official holiday, it is listed here. If the holiday falls on a Sunday (the Christian day off), it is extended until the following Tuesday.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong: Though technically part of the PRC, Hong Kong has considerable autonomous control. The first three days of the Chinese New Year are official holidays. This is one day longer than on the Mainland.

Indonesia

Indonesia: The first day of the Lunar New Year is a holiday. It is significant that the Chinese and Vietnamese in Indonesia are only a minority, but the state still recognizes the first day of the Asian New Year as a sign of respect to an important minority population.

Macau

Macau: Macau, like Hong Kong, is technically part of the PRC, but has considerable autonomous control. As with Hong Kong, the first three days of the Chinese New Year are official holidays. This is one day longer than on the Mainland.

Malaysia

Malaysia: The Chinese are Malaysia's largest minority and a major part of the overall society. As a sign of respect to that minority, Malaysia recognizes the first two days of Lunar New Year as official holidays.

Mongolia: Bituun (New Year's Eve) and first three days of Tsagaan Sar are official holidays.

Mongolia

Mauritius: Mauritius is the only nation in Africa to recognize the Lunar New Year as an official state holiday.

North Korea

North Korea: The first day of Seol is an official holiday.

The Philippines

The Philippines: The first day of the Lunar New Year is a holiday, although the Chinese community is a minority within the country.

PRC

People's Republic of China: New Year’s Eve and the first two days of the New Year are holidays in the PRC. That said, the government usually officially makes the New Year a seven-day holiday. By doing so, the Chinese may have the days off but are then required to work during either the preceding or following weekend (or another weekend if agreed upon). Businesses and schools, in turn, consider the two weekend days as being the weekdays that were missed. While this clarifies issues such as overtime pay or extra school days, this nonetheless makes predicting when something is actually shut down or open very difficult at this time of year.

Note also that Hong Kong, Macau and Tibet all are part of the PRC but have different Lunar New Year official times off (as noted elsewhere in this list).

Taiwan

Taiwan: In Taiwan the Lunar New Year’s Eve and the first three days of the Chinese New Year are official days off. Additionally, the fifth day of the Chinese New Year is an official day off for the Dragon Boat Festival (or Duan Wu Festival). This effectively makes the fourth day of the New Year an unofficial day off.

Tibet

Tibet: Although Tibet is part of the PRC, Losar is officially recognized as a holiday for the first seven days of the Lunar New Year. This is done as a recognition of the cultural traditions of the Tibetan ethnic minority.

Singapore

Singapore: Singapore recognizes the first two days of the Lunar New Year as official days off. Approximately 74% of Singapore's population is Chinese in ethnicity.

South Korea

South Korea: The first three days of Seol are officially recognized as a state holiday.

Vietnam

Vietnam: The last two days of old year and first three days of Tet are officially recognized as state holidays.

Year of the Sheep, Ram, Goat Celebrations Around the Globe

Of course, many of the most important parades and celebrations for Chinese New Year, as one would expect, taking place in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Taiwan. Similarly, Losar celebrations take place in Bhutan and Tibet; Tet celebrations in Vietnam, Seol celebrations in

Korea

and so on.

The emphasis here, though, is to show how widespread observances for the Asian Lunar New Year have become throughout the world and to encourage you to consider attending one of these if you live nearby.

Lunar New Year Celebrations in Asian Countries
Without Lunar Year Tradition

Indonesia

* Jakarta, Indonesia http://newyearseveblog.com/jakarta-chinese-new-year/

Malaysia

* Kuala Lumpur http://www.malaysiasite.nl/chingay.htm

* George Town, http://goseasia.about.com/od/eventsfestiva2/a/cnypenang.htm

* Kota Kinabalu, Sabah http://www.sabahtourism.com/events/chinese-new-year

The Philippines

* Cebu http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/cebu-host-chinese-new-year-fest

* Davao City http://www.davaotourism.com/home/cityupdates/viewArticle/Chinese%20New%20Year%202014&currpage=1&SubCat=&subPage=news

* Manila http://entertainment.inquirer.net/25467/business-unusual-at-parade-of-stars

Manila's Chinese New Year Parade begins in Binondo.
The oldest Chinatown in the world, Binondo was already well established
as a trade center when the Spanish arrived in 1521, and remains
an active center of Filipino Chinese commerce and culture to this day.

Thailand

* Bangkok http://newyearseveblog.com/bangkok-chinese-new-year/

* Nakon Sawon http://www.nakhonsawanprovince.com/chinese_new_year_nakhonsawan.htm

* Phuket http://www.mydestination.com/phuket/events/73620530/chinese-new-year-2015-15-february-2015

Nakon Sawon Chinese New Year Parade (left)

The Chinese community has been present in Thailand

since the Ayutthaya Period (ca. 1350 CE)

Lunar New Year Celebrations Elsewhere

Australia

* Adelaide, South Australia http://www.chinesenewyear.com.au/ade_home.html

* Brisbane, Queensland http://www.chinesenewyear.com.au/bris_locations.html

* Bundaberg, Queensland http://bundabergregionevents.com.au/events/chinese-new-year-celebrations

* Cairns, Queensland http://www.eventsqld.com.au/queensland-event-calendar/details/2734-cairns-chinese-new-year-2014

* Canberra, ACT http://www.visitcanberra.com.au/Events/Festivals-and-celebrations/Event-Details-Page.aspx?ID=9006265&Title=Lantern+Festival+2014

* Gladstone, Queensland http://gladstonecareercentre.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/volunteer-at-the-chinese-new-year-of-the-horse-2014-at-international-village/

* Gold Coast (Surfer's Paradise), Queensland : http://www.chinesenewyear.com.au/gc_locations.html

* Hamilton Island, Queensland http://eventsonthehorizon.com/event/chinese-new-year-hamilton-island-2014/

* Hobart, Tasmania http://www.chinesenewyear.com.au/hobart_home.html

* Melbourne, Victoria http://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/melbourne_details.php?id=61649#.UtDu5tJDvTo

* Perth, Western Australia http://www.chinesenewyear.com.au/perth_home.html

* Sydney, New South Wales http://www.sydneychinesenewyear.com/

* Townsville, Queensland http://www.meetup.com/Townsville-Foodies-Meetup-Group/events/155490652/

Chinese New Year festivities in Sydney
include fireworks over the harbor

Canada

* Calgary, Alberta http://www.culturalcentre.ca/index.php?page=cny-2015

* Durham, Ontario http://www.durhamchinese.ca/main/

* Edmonton, Alberta
http://www.wem.ca/events/events-performances/chinese-new-year-extravaganza

* Fort McMurray, Alberta http://fmchinese.ca/

* Kingston, Ontario https://sites.google.com/site/kingstonchinesecanadian/

* Markham, Ontario http://www.guidingstar.ca/Chinese_New_Year_Celebrations.htm

* Moncton, New Brunswick http://www.gmcca.ca/

* Montreal, Quebec http://newyearseveblog.com/montreal-chinese-new-year/

* Nanaimo, British Columbia NOTE: This is actually a joint Robert Burns Day / Chinese New Year Celebration this year. http://www.harbourliving.ca/event/gung-haggis-fat-choy/2015-01-24/

Nanaimo, BC is holding a joint
Robert Burns Day / Chinese New Year
Celebration for 2014

* Ottawa, Ontario http://www.ottawaasianfest.com/

* Richmond, British Columbia http://www.tourismrichmond.com/includes/calendar-of-events/Countdown-Night-to-Chinese-New-Year-of-the-Sheepat-Aberdeen-Centre/1032/

Vancouver's Chinese New Year Parade
annually draws over 50,000 spectators
who watch its over 3000 participants

* Saint John, New Brunswick http://www.ccasj.org/

* Toronto, Ontario http://newyearseveblog.com/chinese-new-year-toronto/

* Vancouver, British Columbia http://www.cbavancouver.ca/

* Victoria, British Columbia http://www.cbavancouver.ca/

* Waterloo, Ontario http://www.wrps.on.ca/event/year-sheep-chinese-new-year-festival

* Whitehorse, Yukon http://www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/Chinese-New-Year-Festival.html

* Windsor, Ontario http://www.kijiji.ca/v-events/windsor-area-on/2015-chinese-new-year-gala/1043768024

* Winnipeg, Manitoba http://central.canada.taoist.org/content/newsitem_ca_central.asp?name=Canada-Central-Kingston-2015-02-08-NewYearBanquet&highlight=Chinese%20new%20year

France

* Alfortville (Chinagora) http://www.huatian-chinagora.fr/

* Belleville (Greater Paris) http://www.evous.fr/Parcours-du-Defile-du-Nouvel-An,1146307.html

* Caen (Hérouville Saint-Clair) http://www.caensavezvous.fr/?p=9212

* Courbevoie http://www.ville-courbevoie.fr/lagenda-de-vos-evenements/fiche/nouvel-an-chinois-un-defile-et-une-fete.htm

* Grenoble (Echirolles) http://alpi-isere.com/

* Lyon http://www.en.lyon-france.com/en/Things-to-do/List-of-Events/Entertainment-Leisure/Carnival/Nouvel-An-Chinois

* Montpellier http://www.toutmontpellier.fr/tag/Nouvel%20an%20chinois%20Montpellier

* Nancy http://www.chinenancy.org/evenements2014.html

* Noisy-la-Grande http://www.noisylegrand-tourisme.fr/sortir-se-detendre-se-cultiver/sortir/les-animations/le-nouvel-an-chinois.html

* Paris (Chinese New Year) http://www.sortiraparis.com/loisirs/guides/47124-le-nouvel-an-chinois-a-paris-2015

* Paris (Vietnamese Tet) http://www.sortiraparis.com/arts-culture/articles/78894-nouvel-an-vietnamien-2015-au-pavillon-baltard-tet-au-village

* Quimper, France http://www.quimper.bzh/evenement/12772/3-actualites.htm

* Sainte-Etienne http://www.chine-informations.com/evenement/nouvel-an-chinois-a-saint-etienne-du-rouvray_496.html

* Strasbourg http://www.chineseinstitute.fr/la-chine-aujourdhui/le-nouvel-an-chinois-fete-a-strasbourg/

The Paris Chinese New Year Parade is one of Europe's largest

The Netherlands

* Amsterdam http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/visiting/whats-on/monthly-event-calendar/february/chinese-new-year

* Groningen http://uit.groningen.nl/agenda/the-grand-chinese-new-year-concert

* The Hague http://www.chinesecultuur.nl/

* Rotterdam http://www.rijnmond.nl/nieuws/26-09-2014/chinees-nieuwjaar-2015-afgelast-wegens-geldgebrek

Rotterdam's Chinese New Year Parade

New Zealand

* Auckland http://www.aucklandnz.com/lantern

* Christchurch, New Zealand http://asianz.org.nz/our-work/arts-and-community/festivals/chinese-lantern-festival

* Dunedin http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2015/chinese-new-year/dunedin

* Wellington, NZ http://www.chinesenewyear.co.nz/?page_id=2

Wellington, New Zealand's Chinese New Year celebration

United Kingdom

* Aberdeen, Scotland http://www.aberdeencentre.com/en/index.php

* Birmingham, England http://www.cnybirmingham.org.uk/

* Cambridge, England http://www.list.co.uk/event/20400532-chinese-new-year-gala/

* Cardiff,

Wales http://www.educationgroup.co.uk/workshops/chinese-new-year\

* Exeter, England http://www.exeter.ac.uk/internationalstudents/eventsoncampus/chinesenewyear/

* Glasgow, Scotland http://www.familiesonline.co.uk/LOCATIONS/Glasgow/whats-on/Glasgow-Museums-Resource-Centre/Kung-Hei-Fat-Choy!-Happy-Chinese-New-Year!

* Ipswich, England http://www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/shows/chinese-new-year-2015/

* Leeds, England http://www.visitleeds.co.uk/Leeds-Happy-Chinese-New-Year-2015/details/?dms=3&feature=1602&venue=2190155&easi=true&pn=Chinese+new+year&catid=5&miles=8&nd=1&pvieflag=e

* Liverpool, England http://www.itsliverpool.com/culture/

Chinese New Year Parade at Trafalgar Square, London

* London, England http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/4733685

* Manchester, England http://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Manchester/Manchester-City-Centre/Chinese-New-Year-2015/12273391/

* Medway, Kent,

England

http://tickets.medway.gov.uk/application/event.aspx?eventid=51973

* Newcastle, England http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/chinese-new-year

* Nottingham, England http://www.lakesidearts.org.uk/Children/ViewEvent.html?e=2807&c=1&d=0

* Plymouth, England https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/whats-on/chinese-new-year-banquet

* Sheffield, England http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.429752.1420200695!/file/Flyer_Sheffield_CNY_Show_2015.pdf

* Swansea, Wales http://www.educationgroup.co.uk/swansea-school-workshops/chinese-new-year

United States

* Albany, New York http://www.albanyca.org/index.aspx?page=857

* Anchorage, Alaska http://alaskachinese.org/docs/nl-201412%20a.pdf

* Atlanta, Georgia http://gasiantimes.com/event/2015-atlanta-chinese-lunar-new-year-festival/

* Austin, Texas (Tet) http://www.vacat.org/hoi-cho-tet-at-mui-2015/

* Bangor, Maine http://www.bangorchinese.com/HOLIDAYNY15.HTML

* Birmingham, Alabama http://www.bhmchinesefestival.org/

* Boston, Massachussetts http://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/boston-event-calendar-february.html

* Butte, Montana http://goldwest.visitmt.com/listings/15393.htm

* Chapel Hill, North Carolina http://www.nctacas.org/

* Chicago, Illinois
http://chicagochinatown.org/event/chinatown-lunar-year-parade-year-ram-4713/

* Cleveland, Ohio https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2015-lunar-new-year-year-of-the-sheep-tickets-14048261729

* Colorado Springs, Colorado http://www.cscci.org/

* Costa Mesa, California (Tet) http://www.tetfestival.org/

* Dayton, Ohio http://www.wright.edu/events/lunar-new-year-celebration

* Deadwood, South Dakota http://blackhillsbadlands.com/calendar-of-events/2015-02-21-180000/chinese-new-year-party

* Denver, Colorado http://yourhub.denverpost.com/blog/tag/2015-colorado-chinese-new-year-celebriation/

* Des Moines, Iowa CHINESE NEW YEAR http://www.iowachinese.org/events/2015newyear.html

* Des Moines, Iowa KOREAN NEW YEAR http://kcciowa.org/events/

* Des Plaines, Illinois http://business.oakleesguide.com/events/details/chinese-new-year-celebration-19640

* Detroit, Michigan https://www.dcba.com/events/2015-dcba-chinese-new-year-gala/

* Eugene, Oregon http://asiancelebration.org

* Falls Church, Virginia http://www.chinesenewyearfestival.org/newsvideos/1-festival-news/30-biggest-chinese-new-year-festival-returning-to-falls-church

The Lunar New Year Parade in Flushing, Queens
is the New York area's largest with
over 4000 people marching annually

* Flushing, Queens, New York http://chinesenewyearblog.com/flushing-queens-cny/ (This is actually the largest New York City area Lunar New Year Parade).

* Fresno, California
http://www.wherevent.com/detail/Fresno-Chinatown-Fresno-Chinese-New-Year-Parade-Festival-2015

* Hilo, Hawaii http://www.konaweb.com/calendar/

* Honolulu, Hawaii http://chinesenewyearblog.com/honolulu-hawaii-cny/

* Houston, Texas http://lunarnewyearhouston.com/