Public schools in New York have closed on Wednesday to honor the Lunar New Year, marking the first official day off for students since a 2023 state law was enacted. Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the significance of allowing the AAPI community to celebrate with their families without the constraints of work or school. The move has garnered support from state legislators, highlighting its personal importance. Lunar New Year is a key cultural event celebrated by various Asian communities, with this year being the Year of the Snake. Other U.S. cities also recognize the holiday through closures or events.
For too long, our AAPI community had to celebrate after work or school. That's why we made it a school holiday and this year marks the first time students will have it off!
Students across the state will be able to celebrate the holiday with their families without missing school. Passing this bill was deeply personal to me and I'm grateful to be able to celebrate with community members who fought to make it happen.
The beginning of the new year generally falls between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. It's one of the most important holidays in several Asian cultures and is celebrated widely.
In the U.S., some local public school districts closed in honor of Lunar New Year include Philadelphia and San Francisco, while others such as Orange County are choosing to mark the occasion with in-school celebrations.
Collection
[
|
...
]