ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Asian Americans celebrating a huge win for their culture after Governor Hochul signed new legislation on September 9. Legislation (A.7768/S.7573) has schools closed for the Chinese Lunar New Year when the holiday falls on a weekday. The 2024 celebration will take place on Saturday, February 10, and will not impact this academic year.
As President of Albany’s Chinese Community Center (CCC), Wei Qin still thinks back to her childhood Lunar New Years; celebrating in bright clothing with food and firecrackers. “The whole package, the image, its impression, so deeply rooted in one’s memory.”
When Qin came to the United States in 2014, she found that her heritage was not as honored as everyone else’s. She felt her children missing out on their culture. “Every year, when it is Lunar New Year Day, I feel sad because my kids have to go to school. It should be a big celebration. Memorable to them like it is to me.”
It’s America. We celebrate our holidays. Does China have its banks open on the 4th of July?
What??? We shouldn’t be celebrating anything to do with China except , maybe, them disappearing.