Say goodbye to the ox and hello to the rabbit –– Chinese New Year is here.
This annual celebration, sometimes referred to as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, is a very famous and much-celebrated holiday in China and East Asia. Marked by the first new moon between Jan. 21 and Feb. 10, this year’s festivities began on Jan. 22.
A new Chinese zodiac sign is assigned each year, repeating in a twelve-year cycle. 2023 is the year of the rabbit.
To usher in the new year, common revelries include a dinner feast, parades, fireworks and the exchanging of red letters. Red is fundamental to the holiday. As the color of luck, it adorns all kinds of decorations.
To celebrate this global holiday in Greater Tampa Bay, discover some of the best spots to partake in the food, traditions and party.
Yummy House
Few places in Florida are as renowned as Yummy House. Winner of multiple restaurant awards, the authentic Chinese bistro was even featured in the famed Michelin Guide. It was founded by John Zhao and Tommy Tang, friends from Toishan, China. Yummy House has multiple locations across the state, including Tampa and Gainesville.
Featuring a menu chock full of traditional Chinese favorites, a wide selection of dim sum and a dedication to high-quality food and service, Yummy House is an excellent place for a taste of Chinese New Year.
Hawkers Asian Street Food
A staple of Chinese cuisine and a crucial element to Chinese New Year celebrations is its dizzying array of delicious street food. Hawkers Asian Street Food brings this key ingredient to St. Petersburg’s EDGE District.
The menu is diverse. Along with Chinese fare, they have street food delicacies representing Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea, Thailand and more. Whether its dim sum or pad Thai, bao buns or Indian roti, Hawkers is a great taste of Chinese New Year.
Shen Yun
To fully embrace and capture the spirit of Chinese New Year, the art and history from its country of origin are great places to start.
Shen Yun, literally translated to “the beauty of divine beings dancing,” is a performance of acrobatics, music and, of course, dance. Touring across the world since 2006, Shen Yun tells stories about the history of the culture while accompanied by traditional Chinese music and choreography.
The Shen Yun Performing Arts troupe is coming to the Duke Energy Center for the Arts in St. Petersburg from March 7 to April 2.
By Ryan Walsh.
