Spring Festival lights up New York and beyond

The United States was seeing red in mid-February.

Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, has been finding a wider audience across the country beyond Chinese communities. Red, a color tied to the holiday, is lighting up cities, revered institutions, businesses and more.

From the echo of drums in the streets to the crackle of firecrackers beneath lantern-lit storefronts, the Chinese New Year spirit has long existed in Chinatowns, where parades and community celebrations set the tone for the season.

"I celebrate it every year," Dona Hatcher, a New York resident, told China Daily. "I celebrate it the same way I celebrate other New Year holidays, with good wishes and happiness for myself and my friends."

Now, these festivals have become visible in the urban landscape. Red colors light up steel and glass, illuminating corporate towers and public landmarks, and spilling into sports arenas and civic plazas. In many cities, Spring Festival has become ubiquitous.

For example, on Feb 16, one of the world's most popular landmarks, the Empire State Building, lit up "Chinese red" for the 26th consecutive year to mark the holiday. Inside its Fifth Avenue lobby, a special zodiac-inspired horse installation showcased Chinese culture and art, drawing visitors from all over the world who gathered to take photos.

"Spring Festival has served as an important bond uniting Chinese people for thousands of years. It has also become a powerful cultural symbol that bridges different civilizations and peoples," said Chen Li, the Chinese consul general of New York. Chen also invited visitors to celebrate the festival and travel to China in the near future.

More than 15 landmarks across the state of New York were illuminated red on Feb 17 to mark the Year of the Horse, including One World Trade Center and Niagara Falls.

In New Jersey, the iconic Ferris wheel at the American Dream shopping and entertainment complex also turned red. The complex, the second-largest shopping center in the US, celebrated the new year with red lanterns, zodiac-themed decorations and activities including family-friendly performances.

The commercial sector has embraced the festival with enthusiasm, releasing zodiac-themed accessories and promotional campaigns across social media.

"This year, we welcome the Year of the Horse. The horse symbolizes speed, momentum and limitless possibilities. It is a year to move forward with courage, energy and purpose," said Justin Ghermezian, vice-chairman of Triple Five Worldwide, American Dream's developer. "Since we first opened our doors in 2019, celebrating the Lunar New Year has been one of our proudest traditions."

As one of the most important cultural traditions, the festival has also become a popular occasion for family gatherings.

For example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York welcomed a dragon dance team into its Great Hall and featured the horse as part of its annual zodiac exhibition, while workshops and performances tied to the festival drew thousands of families eager to learn.

The China Institute of America in Lower Manhattan held a series of New Year cultural events in collaboration with the Shanghai Museum, bringing festive activities to the city with interactive workshops.

"Spring Festival is really about looking forward to spring, and that sense of hope is something people everywhere can relate to," Tang Shifen, director of the management committee of the Shanghai Museum, told China Daily. "We just hope to bring traditional Chinese culture to the US and give people more ways to celebrate and enjoy the holiday together."