Join the Free Library of Philadelphia as we celebrate Chinese New Year and the Year of the Pig!

Chinese New Year is a fifteen-day celebration which starts on the new moon (also known as Lunar new Year). On Chinese New Year, people participate in traditional activities such as: sweeping out the old year and welcoming in the new, rejoicing and reuniting with family, cooking special foods, honoring ancestors, distributing and receiving red envelopes for good fortune, participating in the special dragon/lion dance, and making loud noises with firecrackers. Schools and businesses are closed for an extended holiday break so people can visit families and relatives far away.

Here in Philadelphia, Holy Redeemer School students will perform the traditional Lion Dance with drummers to chase away evil spirits and usher in a year of good luck. Our own Jennifer Chang, Chief, Central Public Services Division, will also regale the audience with captivating Chinese folkloric tales. This annual Chinese New Year program (15 yeards and counting!) is a neighborhood treasure and an outstanding example of multicultural community partnerships that fulfill and expand the mission and vision of the Free Library of Philadelphia. There will be two chances to catch the Lion Dance on Wednesday, February 13: 12:30 p.m. at Independence Library and 4:00 p.m. at Parkway Central Library. We will also be giving away coloring pages based on Independence Library’s beautiful "Four Seasons/Chinese Zodiac" mural, and to the children in the audience we distribute safety fireworks (i.e. pieces of bubble wrap for energetic snapping!)

You can browse and check out books and videos from our catalog that explore the hidden gems of Chinese culture and the Chinese New Year.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Free Library to explore the Chinese New Year and learn more about Chinese culture!