Source: english.cri.cn


Three girls deliver red envelopes to the lion during the Lion Dance at a Lunar New Year celebration in Tustin, Calif. Feb. 17, 2013. The Southern Young Tigers from UC, Irvine performed the dance. The Lion Dance is believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits and the performers are rewarded with the red envelopes that usually contain money.[Photo: dfic.cn]

California senate has passed a resolution to make Chinese Lunar New year an official festival of the state, which is the first time ever that a senate in America has introduced a bill of this kind at state level, China News reports.

"The Lunar New Year is a time of feasting and renewing of family ties," said Bob Huff, the senate republican leader of California as he presented the resolution on the Senate floor on Monday which marked the beginning of the Lunar New Year.

"The celebration of this event in communities throughout California illustrates the state's rich cultural history and commitment to racial, religious, and cultural diversity," said Senator Huff.

The Lunar New Year which is a traditional Chinese festival for people to pray for good harvest and have a clean slate at the beginning of the new year is also celebrated in many other Asian communities around the world.

It is predominantly celebrated by millions of Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese residents.


A local resident buys red decorations for the upcoming Spring Festival or the Chinese Luna New Year at Chinatown on January 12, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. [Photo: dfic.cn]