METUCHEN – On February 12, in the center of the city, the Metuhen community celebrated the New Year in lunar style.
The audience was able to learn about the culture and history of a special day: from performances and food to crafts and history.
The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year, fell on February 1 this year, when the Year of the Tiger is celebrated.
A quarter of the world’s population celebrates the New Year. It is a public holiday for the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, North Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Brunei, according to Simi Zhu on the website of the Metuchen Downtown Alliance (MDA).
The festivities were part of an ongoing collaboration between the MDA and the Commission on Human Relations, resulting in 2021 celebrations on June 16 and Hispanic Heritage Month.
Residents Jacqueline Ho and Jennifer Zhu helped organize the festivities.
People who came downtown enjoyed the dance parade performances with the Metuchen High School Asian Heritage Club and members of the Lion Dance team from the University of Pennsylvania through New Street and Main Street.
According to Simi Zhu, the lion dance is performed to bring prosperity and good luck next year and drive away evil spirits.
A Korean fan troupe of dancers and Korean drummers also performed at Metuchen Town Plaza.
Sobina Chi Kanter performed a lively, intimate jazz piano performance at Papillon & Company.
A number of companies joined the celebration.
DiCosmo’s Italian Ice provides non-standard flavors, Pastry Lu – special pastries, and What’s the Scoop – special flavors of ice cream to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Terrace Plant Shop provided special jade and money plants, and Picture Perfect Studio – a special photo shoot in the studio on the lunar New Year.
People were able to make origami tigers in Genus Boni, and children were able to learn about the lion’s head used in traditional lion dances in New Market Metuhen.
