Top 3 things to know about the Lunar New Year at Green Acres Mall

At a nondescript, quiet table at the Green Acres Mall, volunteer Mary Zhu carefully folded origami paper into a shimmering rose-pink lotus flower. It was an informal Lunar New Year event led by the Traditional Cultural Reviving Center on February 22, offering attendees hands-on experience in the art of crafting the iconic flower. The celebration sought to welcome the Year of the Snake with a flair for creativity and community engagement.

Here are the top three things to know about the event:

1. Lotus flowers are symbols of purity and renewal amidst the muck 

Participants of all ages were welcomed to create lotus flowers, a deeply symbolic element in Asian culture. The lotus represents purity, enlightenment, and resilience, as it grows beautifully despite emerging from muddy waters. “Lotus flowers have a special character,” noted Zhu. “They grow in a dirty environment, but they come out very pure.” In the context of the Lunar New Year, the craft symbolizes a fresh start and personal growth — aptly mirroring the transformative themes of the animal the year is named after.

 

2. The Year of the Snake welcomes wisdom and rebirth

The event marked the arrival of the Year of the Snake, which in Chinese astrology represents intelligence, intuition, and adaptability. Snakes are often associated with rebirth due to their ability to shed their skin, making this year a time of renewal and strategic decision-making.

The celebration encouraged attendees to embrace change and new opportunities in the year ahead. The Chinese zodiac operates on a 12-year cycle, noted volunteer George Li, with each year assigned to a different animal. Every 60 years, a combination of the 12 animals and the five elements repeats. This year, 2025, is specifically the Year of the Wood Snake. The Wood Snake encourages adaptability and long-term planning, fostering stability and progress.

It is a time to balance introspection with action, creating opportunities for self-improvement. Those born under the Wood Snake are often seen as intelligent, patient, and strategic, combining practicality with creativity to achieve success.

 

3. Cultural celebrations are best done as a community 

The Traditional Culture Reviving Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and restoring traditional cultures, with a particular focus on classical Chinese dance and other performing arts.

Volunteers agreed that by engaging in this hands-on craft, families and individuals connected with the deeper meanings of the Lunar New Year, promoting cultural understanding and strengthening community ties.

Lunar New Year is celebrated by over 1.5 billion people worldwide. It is observed primarily in countries with significant Chinese populations, such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia.

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