Lunar New Year 2023 begins!

Happy Lunar New Year! Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival begins on Sunday, January 22, 2023 and is observed by millions of people around the world. China and many other countries in Asia, including Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines each hold their own celebrations at this time.

Lunar New Year marks the transition from one Chinese zodiac animal to the next, and 2023 is the Year of the Water Rabbit, which offers a shift of energy away from the fierce tiger to a more patient and gentle animal. The rabbit symbolizes longevity, peace and prosperity in Chinese culture. We encourage you to explore the archived performances below to learn about and honor this celebration.

• Smithsonian | National Museum of Asian Art

  • Take a virtual tour and explore customs of the Lunar New Year through artwork in the museum’s collection. Discover Chinese Music for the Lunar New Year, a compilation of traditional music is taken from concerts recorded live at the National Museum of Asian Art, featuring Bing Xia on zheng, Yi Zhou on pipa and qin, Miao Yi Min on xiao and dizi, and the Gang-a-Tsui Theater.

• Met Museum | Celebrating the Year of the Rabbit

  • This Met exhibition opens on January 21st and ends on February 4th, presenting Chinese works that illustrate the rabbit’s prominence in ancient Chinese culture.

  • Peony Pavilion

    • The Peony Pavilion is one of the most important works of classical Chinese opera and this 75-minute version was developed and directed by celebrated composer Tan Dun with choreography by Huang Doudou, one of China's most prominent dancers. This performance was organized in conjunction with the exhibition Chinese Gardens: Palace Pavilions, Scholars' Studios, Rustic Retreats, on view from 2012-2013.

• The Kennedy Center | China: Arts & Culture

  • Watch a video that highlights the diversity of China’s performing arts, and browse archived performances of folk music and opera from previous celebrations.

• Abrons Arts Center and The W.O.W. Project, From Chinatown, With Love: Charm Workshop

  • Celebrate the Year of the Water Rabbit with an afternoon of art-making! Inspiring good wishes for the new year, participants of all ages are invited to create rabbit-themed headdresses and transform recycled materials into a large-scale community charm.

There are a variety of events happening in the city, take a look at this TimeOut article to see what’s happening in your neighborhood!