Spokane Libraries Unveil Exciting and Tasty Celebrations for Lunar New Year!

Our world has just welcomed its first full moon of the year, indicating that the subsequent lunar phenomenon is approaching swiftly – the year’s initial new moon. This event also brings forth the Lunar New Year festivities celebrated globally, including within our local community.

The Spokane County Library District and Spokane Public Library present various enjoyable and delectable ways to commemorate the arrival of spring and to invite good fortune for 2025.

To start things off, participate in an online cooking lesson organized by the Filipino American Northwest Association on Wednesday, Jan. 22. Sign up at scld.org to obtain the list of ingredients, then follow along from your very own kitchen. Not only will you acquire a new recipe, but you’ll also discover some insights about Filipino culture along the way.

On Saturday, Jan. 25, stop by the Shadle Park Library for a full afternoon of festivities. The Filipino American Association of the Inland Empire has organized an entire celebration, commencing at 1 p.m. with four traditional dances.

Ragragsakan is a lively dance incorporating baskets, while Pamaypay features traditional woven fans for a more graceful choreography. Dayang Dayang is a cultural dance that embodies the elegance of Filipino royalty. The Tinikling dance necessitates a special level of coordination, as dancers perform their routines over sliding bamboo poles. This dance mimics the swift movements of the Buff-banded rail, known in the Philippines as the tikling bird.

Attendees of the event will also have the chance to win door prizes, generously donated by various local Asian establishments.

Once the dances have lifted your spirits, remain for the 2 p.m. fashion show to witness a vibrant display of traditional Filipino attire from diverse regions that exemplify the cultural richness found throughout the Philippines.

Celebrating can stir up an appetite, so the event organizers will provide tasty spring roll samples at 2:30 p.m. Discover how to create lumpia, the Filipino and Indonesian spring roll, fried to a crispy, golden perfection and filled with scrumptious ingredients.

“Typically, they include onion, green onion tops, and then we usually add (in) minced meat. You can use minced pork, minced chicken, or minced beef. … You just sauté all the ingredients with onion and garlic,” stated Nelly Christoffersen, the newly appointed FAAIE vice president.

The day’s activities will conclude at 3:30 p.m. If you’re experiencing the usual lull of a lack of Western holidays until Easter, the Lunar New Year provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the gradually lengthening days and the approach of spring, while also enjoying the enrichment that comes from learning about different cultures.

“This offers a tremendous opportunity to gain insight into Filipino culture … The library serves as a learning space that not only delivers opportunities for the public but also provides the presenters with a platform to shine. Moreover, various local businesses have contributed items for giveaways, making it a truly unifying occasion for the community,” expressed Juan Juan Moses, community educator at Spokane Public Library.

The Lunar New Year, also referred to as Spring Festival, is celebrated for its spectacular firework displays, red lanterns, family time, and the tradition of giving lucky money.

“What I cherish most about (the) Lunar New Year is the dragon dance,” remarked Christoffersen. She had the chance to witness dragon dance performances while working and residing in Singapore.

The dragon dance stands as one of the most notable images associated with the Spring Festival, frequently depicted in Western films. It involves a cultural performance by a group of individuals operating poles beneath an elongated dragon puppet to create captivating, undulating motions.

The lore surrounding dragons has perpetually been a significant aspect of the annual 15-day Spring Festival observances. One popular Chinese tale tells of a creature named Nian (the Chinese character nian typically signifies “year” or “new year”) that would invade villages on New Year’s Eve to consume livestock, crops, and even villagers.

This story reveals that villagers discovered Nian was frightened by loud sounds, bright lights, and the color red, which is why fireworks, firecrackers, and red decorations and garments became essential elements of the Spring Festival. This also explains the tradition of giving lucky money in red envelopes.

Another vital facet of the Spring Festival is the time spent with family. People make journeys home to participate in what is known as the reunion dinner, resulting in one of the largest global travel surges of the year, referred to as Chunyun. A report by Reuters indicates that Chinese authorities anticipate 9 billion domestic trips between Jan. 14 and Feb. 22.

If you are eager to delve deeper into Lunar New Year customs, the libraries in Spokane offer a fantastic array of books that explore and depict how the Spring Festival is celebrated across various Asian cultures.

“Tomorrow is New Year’s Day,” by Aram Kim chronicles the journey of a young girl celebrating Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year. “Lunar New Year Love Story,” authored by Gene Luen Yang, presents a graphic novel featuring the tale of Val, a young woman who has relinquished hope for love until an unexpected encounter with a lion dancer changes everything. “The Tray of Togetherness,” by Flo Leung, examines the significance of familial bonds and how her multi-racial family comes together through shared meals and traditions. Consult your local librarian for additional recommendations to satisfy your interest in this worldwide celebration.