Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring Lunar New Year 2025
end
Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommends Mayor and Council read and approve the proclamation, and present it to John Lin, Chair of the Rockville Asian Pacific American Task Force.
Discussion
The Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean communities. The Lunar New Year usually takes place at the end of January or the beginning of February and is predominantly celebrated by many Asian cultures. This Lunar New Year occurs on January 29, 2025, with a New Year's Eve celebrations on January 28, and it runs through February 12, 2025. The event marks the arrival of spring and is based on the lunar calendar.
People celebrate the Lunar New Year by visiting their relatives, and temples, and attending festivals
where they let go of the troubles of the past year and hope for a better new year. Celebratory
features of the Lunar New Year can also be seen in the forms of dragon and lion dances, firecrackers, pageantry, songs, games, food, and of course, the giving and spending of money. The Spring Festival marks a new year on the lunar calendar and represents the desire for a new life. Red is the main color for the festival, as red is believed to be an auspicious color. Red lanterns hang in streets; red couplets are pasted on doors; banks and official buildings are decorated with red New Year pictures depicting images of prosperity.
The Lantern Festival marks the conclusion of the Lunar New Year and will fall on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. There are many different beliefs about the origin of the Lantern Festival, however, its roots date back more than 2,000 years. The Lantern Festival is the first major feast after the Lunar New Year. During the Lantern Festival, it is considered good luck to light and release a sky lantern, as many believe that they symbolize the worries from the previous year floating away.
2025 is the “Year of the Snake,” one of the zodiac animals, The Snake is the sixth animal in the 12-year Chinese zodiac, associated with traits of wisdom, mystery, introspection, and elegance. In Chinese culture, those born in a Snake year are thought to possess qualities of patience, insight, and keen intuition. They are regarded as deep thinkers who can often see what others overlook, making them ideal problem solvers and strategists.
Each Lunar New Year is associated with one of the 12 zodiac animals, each paired with one of the five traditional elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) in a 60-year cycle. The year 2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake, blending the qualities of the Snake with the characteristics of Wood.
People born in the Year of the Snake are often described as:
• Perceptive and Intuitive: They are observant, relying on their strong instincts to assess situations before acting.
• Calm and Contemplative: Snakes tend to be calm under pressure and prefer to think things through, embodying a “still waters run deep” mentality.
• Resourceful and Adaptable: Like their animal counterpart, people under this sign can adapt to changing environments and find creative ways to reach their goals.
• Mysterious and Charismatic: Often quiet and introspective, Snakes have an enigmatic charm, drawing people to them naturally.
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council present this proclamation annually.
Public Notification and Engagement
The City of Rockville celebrates Lunar New Year by offering a free event that celebrates Rockville’s Asian cultures with performances, interactive displays, kids’ crafts, and to-go snack boxes (while supplies last). Organized in partnership with Rockville’s Asian Pacific American Task Force <https://www.rockvillemd.gov/147/Asian-Pacific-American-Task-Force>, the Lunar New Year celebration is a source of pride for the city’s Asian community and an educational opportunity for neighbors to learn about Asian culture.
When: Saturday, February 1, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Details: Performances from 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Where: Rockville High School
2100 Baltimore Road
Rockville, MD 20851