Three Reasons Why the Lunar New Year Should Be a Federal Holiday
On September 29, 2022, A new bill, AB 2596, signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, officially recognizes Lunar New Year as an official state holiday. This is a historic step, and a well-known festival that represents a culture and carries the fond memories of countless Asians is officially accepted and promoted by the state government and society. The Lunar New Year bill signed by the California government has played a leading role in the country, and then, after becoming a state bill, the Lunar New Year bill should go further into a federal bill, and here are three reasons why.
The inclusion of the Lunar New Year in the federal bill reflects the government’s emphasis on the Asian-American community, thereby promoting racial equality. Lunar New Year is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Asian countries and the Asian diaspora, with celebrations lasting up to two weeks. The Lunar New Year is based on the lunar calendar and begins with the first new moon and ends with the first full moon.
Today, the Asian-American community has gradually occupied a more important position in American society and has now reached 22 million people. According to the Pew Research Center statistics, by 2060, the number of Asian Americans in the United States will reach a staggering 46 million people. If the trend of violence and discrimination against Asians continues to spread since the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2019, social conflicts will become more acute, and racial divides will widen.
Including the Lunar New Year in the federal bill would be a good gesture of U.S. government support for the Asian-American community. When public opinion intensifies, the government is responsible for standing at the center of the stage and acting as a weathervane. Effectively interfering with negative public opinion and reconciling social conflicts is one of the essential functions of the government, and the introduction of a federal bill for the Lunar New Year will be an effective means.
The introduction of the Lunar New Year federal bill will stimulate the economy. The Lunar New Year originated in China, and buying New Year’s goods is an essential tradition for the festival. Buying New Year’s goods during the Lunar New Year is a top priority, including food, clothing, wear, use, play, offerings to gods, gifts for relatives and friends, dried, fresh, raw, and cooked. In short, the Lunar New Year Must items that are purchased are collectively called “New Year’s Goods,” and the list of purchasing New Year’s goods is called “New Year’s Goods List.”
The above is an example of a New Year’s goods list. They are down jackets, jeans, socks, milk, yogurt, cigarettes, and wine from top to bottom. We all know that the best way to stimulate the economy is to promote consumption, and the publicity effect achieved by incorporating the Lunar New Year into the federal bill can effectively promote community consumption. In California, for example, Los Angeles has one of the largest Chinatowns in the country, and state law gives people an eight-hour holiday on New Year’s Day to go shopping.
The picture above is a scene from Chinatown in Los Angeles during the 2021 Lunar New Year. Despite the shock of Covid-19, people’s enthusiasm for the festival has not been dampened. In my personal life, for example, my family spends roughly one-sixth of their annual income during Lunar New Year. Incorporating the Lunar New Year into the federal bill will allow more people to participate in the festival and celebrate it through consumption, which will undoubtedly stimulate the economy during that time.
The symbolism of including the Lunar New Year in the federal bill would demonstrate social inclusion and cultural diversity and increase public satisfaction. As California Governor Gavin Newsom, who passed state bill AB 2596, said that recognizing Lunar New Year as a state holiday “acknowledges the diversity and cultural significance Asian Americans bring to California.” Undoubtedly, the feeling of being recognized is pride and can create fond memories for people and the community.
America has a culturally diverse society, leading to inevitable cultural clashes. The role of using the symbolism behind the Act to positively guide these conflicts cannot be underestimated. Amplifying this symbolism across the country through a federal act would show a demeanor that would infect countless people.
Speaking of symbolism, Western societies have made some strong statements in recent years. Michelle Wu, a descendant of a Chinese immigrant family, will serve as mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, starting in 2021. It was a highly symbolic event; she was the first Asian-American woman to serve on the Boston City Council.
In addition, in Canada, Kenneth Sim, a descendant of a Chinese immigrant family, was successfully elected as the next mayor of Vancouver with a high turnout rate of more than half (50.96%). He will be the first Chinese Canadian mayor of Vancouver.
Sim’s inaugural speech said this highly symbolic classic: “So now, the path to get here was incredibly long. One hundred thirty-five years after the first Chinese head tax was paid just for the right to come here and work on building a railway, Vancouver has elected its first Chinese mayor.”
Judging from these examples, Asians are gradually gaining a more critical position in Western society, and the importance of integration between different communities and races is self-evident. From being a railroad worker more than a hundred years ago to being a central figure in politics today, the Asian community needs more symbolic events to promote racial equality. Similarly, for American society, more iconic actions are required in order to demonstrate its social inclusion and cultural diversity and enhance public confidence and societal expectations. Promoting the inclusion of Chinese New Year in federal legislation is an excellent example of action.
References
California State Bill AB 2596
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billSearchClient.xhtml
Fireworks Example
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_New_Year
Pew Research Center
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/04/29/key-facts-about-asian-americans/
Example of New Year’s Goods List
https://www.51cto.com/article/643150.html
China Town Example
https://www.lapeople.com/news/52845.html
Michelle Wu Election Night Party Example
https://www.voanews.com/a/boston-elects-wu-first-woman-and-asian-american-as-mayor/6298015.html
Ken Sim Election Night Party Example
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-mayor-council-election-results-1.6610532
Ken Sim Speech Quote
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-mayor-council-election-results-1.6610532
Governor Gavin Newsom Interview Quote
https://www.facebook.com/ICEOUTOFCA/videos/press-conference-introducing-the-vision-act-february-20-2020/201213094404453/
