According to the New York Times, Mayor Bill de Blasio has added the Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, to this year’s academic calendar to be observed as an official holiday and a day off from school for the first time. New York City will join San Francisco in observing the holiday as a district (Reuters). Ron Kim, an Assemblyman in Queens who sponsored the bill said:

“This holiday is not about kids just getting a day off from school…it’s about the City of New York telling hundreds of thousands of Asian Americans that their culture and heritage is part of the American fabric.” 

Margaret Chin, a Councilwoman in Lower Manhattan, stated; “Lunar New Year is a deeply important cultural observance for nearly 15 percent of public school students, and this designation gives Lunar New Year the respect and recognition it has long deserved.” Traditionally in China, Chinese New Year lasts for 15 days with different customs and celebrations for each day, and many students receive a month or more days off from school. Although having one day off may not seem like much, the sheer acknowledgement of the importance of the Lunar New Year for so many Chinese American (and other Asian American) families in New York City is a big step towards a more inclusive community.

Ron Kim says, “The next wave of youth and children can grow up recognizing that Asian culture is part of the mainstream American culture.”

Way to go, NYC! This year, we will be celebrating the Year of the Monkey alongside all the happy kids in New York City who will get the day off to celebrate!

Sources: Image from the New York Times, Reuters, Wikipedia