The City of Burien is celebrating the Lunar New Year with a proclamation and brand-new free community event. The Lunar New Year is celebrated each year on the second new moon after winter solstice on the lunisolar calendar in many parts of Asia and in Asian communities around the world. It became an officially recognized legislative holiday in Washington in 2024. This year, it will be observed on January 29, ushering in the year of the snake.
The Burien City Council presented a Lunar New Year proclamation at its January 27 meeting in recognition of Burien’s 7,000 residents of Asian descent. It also welcomed community members to attend the City’s first official Lunar New Year event on February 1.
The event was produced in partnership with the Burien Library, Discover Burien, and members of the community.
“What is so wonderful about the upcoming first Lunar New Year celebration in Burien is the people behind it,” said the City of Burien’s Economic Development Specialist Lorraine Chachere. “We are fortunate to have community members who have a connection to their city and have the devotion and energy to co-create a meaningful event by sharing cultural traditions to help our city thrive by building bridges within our community and beyond.”
The City of Burien’s Community Connectors discovered that community members had been wanting a Lunar New Year event like this in their own city, which will feature treats, games, and a lion dance.
“It’s important to provide a space where Vietnamese residents in Burien can come together to connect and celebrate Vietnamese culture,” said Nha Khuc, Burien Community Connector. “I have been living in Burien for about 11 years and finally seeing this event held in Burien brings me a sense of belonging. This Lunar New Year (Tết) event is not only a holiday celebration, but also an opportunity to foster connections between people in our community.”
The event also provides a message of inclusivity and celebrating diversity in Burien.
“I have been living in Burien since 2014 and I can't wait to see more and more of my community's characteristics in the City's landscape and [events],” said Elly Trinh, former Burien Community Connector. “It signifies to me that I matter, my culture and experience matter. And that diversity is important to our city.”
The program was supported in part by the City’s Neighborhood Grants Program, which helps bring community-led projects to life.
“The best part of this program is our ability to support community-led initiatives,” said the City’s Urban Forest Planner and Neighborhood Grant Program project manager, Josh Petter. “It is exciting to see first-time projects, such as the Lunar New Year celebration, progress from ideas to reality.”
Lunar New Year is widely observed as a time for family, traditions, reflection, and hope for the future. Community members are invited to share in these traditions at the City’s Lunar New Year Celebration in the Burien Library Multipurpose Room (Burien City Hall Chambers) on Saturday, February 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.