Children were wide-eyed as they watched colorful dragons parade through the aisles of Asia Mall as hundreds of visitors from all over the Twin Cities gathered to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year on Saturday.
Also attending the ceremonies marking the Year of the Dragon were U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, state Sen. Steve Cwodzinksi, and Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case, among others.
Lunar New Year begins on the date of the second new moon after the winter solstice in East Asia, which always occurs in late December, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. The first day of the Lunar New Year can occur anytime between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20.
This year, the second new Moon will occur in China on Saturday, Feb. 10.
For those of you interested in the celestial importance of the celebration, the traditional Chinese calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms The first solar term begins when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 315° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 330°.
Chinese New Year’s Eve is the day before the Chinese New Year, originating 3,500 years ago, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
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