Celebrating Lunar New Year in Memphis
On Tuesday, February 17th, many cultures and communities around the world and here in Memphis will be celebrating (another) New Year! The Lunar New Year is the celebration of the first new moon of the lunar calendar, and the celebration lasts for about two weeks. This celebration is spent with family and friends, eating, fireworks, and lion dances (to name a few traditions).
In Memphis, there is a rich and vibrant Asian community, with a rich and deep history. More recently, there have also been an increase in events and celebrations inviting the larger Memphis community to come together to celebrate the diverse cultures represented in the 901.
With the Lunar New Year quickly approaching, here are some ways for you to join in on the celebrations:
Celebrate in the comfort of your own home:
One of the best ways to learn about other cultures and join in on the celebrations is through reading! Here are two ways your family can learn about Lunar New Year from the comfort of your own home:
Vooks (Read Aloud Animated Kids Books) Chinese New Year for Kids! playlist
Bring this Memphis Moms AAPI Book List to your local library or book store to find these books and learn more about many cultures that celebrate the Lunar New Year through the joy of reading.
For the whole family:
Brooks Museum Lunar New Year Celebration: Saturday, February 21st 10am – 1pm
My family has participated in this free-for-all event at the Brooks Museum for several years now. There are lots of kid-friendly activities to do, and the Lion Dance is always a croud pleaser. Reserve your free ticket here!
Take a culinary tour of Memphis!
Lunar New Year is about being with your family and sharing a meal together. Memphis has a plethora of restaurants offering you the opportunity to try familiar and new-to-you dishes. Whether you are looking for hearty soups, bubbling stews, or sweet treats – you are sure to find just what your taste buds are looking for.
Noodles: Did you know that many Asian countries celebrate the new year by eating noodles on New Year, because long noodles represent longevity? What’s your family’s favorite “long noodle” to slurp? Give I Love Pho a try, or head downtown before a Grizz game and devour a bowl of handmade ramen noodles from Good Fortune Co..
Asian Bakeries: In the last year or so, several new Asian bakeries have popped up and are offering delicious savory and sweet pastries, cakes and other desserts. Check out Tous les Jours, Sweet Musings (new East Memphis location or Cordova), and Bloom Cafe 901 to name a few!
Sweet Treats & Bubble Tea: Who doesn’t love a sweet treat? Snowa Cafe in Germantown offers Bingsu, Korean shaved ice that is oh-so-yummy and truly a celebration of flavors. They also have traditional Korean dishes to try if you need something to balance out your palate. Bếp Teahouse off of Germantown Parkway is a Vietnamese-owned milk tea spot that offers a variety of flavors, toppings and add-ins that make for a wonderful pick-me-up. We recommend the traditional milk tea with coffee jelly, or if you’re wishing for warmer weather in a drink, give Lychee On Lychee a try!
Adult-only options:
5th Annual Lunar New Year Bar Crawl (February 4th – 28th)
Visit Cameo, Bao Toan, and Good Fortune Co. in the month of February and collect 2 stamps at each bar to receive a locally-designed “Fire Horse” tshirt.
Date Night!
Why not extend the valentines love for your significant other/partner this month and plan a date night at a new-to-you Asian restaurant! Bao Toan in Crosstown is one of our favorite places to go for special occasians, and The Han offers Korean food complete with banchan (Korean side dishes).
