The 2025 Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 29. It coincides with the date of new moon and signals the start of the Year of the Snake.
At the Lunar New Year Wishing Wall in the park, visitors shared their messages of hope, health and happiness for the year ahead.
by Xinhua Writers Tan Jingjing, Gao Shan
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Disney California Adventure Park kicked off its 2025 Lunar New Year celebrations during the weekend, featuring a variety of Asian cultural performances, culinary delights and fun festivities.
The park, located in Anaheim, Southern California, is adorned in brilliant red and gold, symbolizing good luck, health and prosperity. The annual celebrations have drawn visitors around the world in recent years.
The 2025 Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 29. It coincides with the date of new moon and signals the start of the Year of the Snake.
At the Lunar New Year Wishing Wall in the park, visitors shared their messages of hope, health and happiness for the year ahead.
"Best fortunes to all the California fire victims and their families! We pray for them and all their losses of the New Year and Beyond," says a card written by a visitor named D.M. Moralos.
Chinese calligraphy demonstrations by local artisans were another attraction.
Roger Sueng, one of the calligraphers, told Xinhua he was glad to introduce Chinese traditional art to American audiences. Many Americans have great interest in Chinese calligraphy, and "love" and "good fortunes" are among the most popular Chinese characters they would like to have, Sueng said.
China's legendary warrior character Mulan and her wisecracking dragon friend Mushu led the way in a Lunar New Year Procession, which honors family, friendship and the potential for a fortune-filled year.
A dazzling nighttime water show, Hurry Home, tells visitors the story of a little lantern's quest to reunite with family for the annual celebration of good luck and fortune. Accompanied by a stirring musical score, created by Academy Award-winning Chinese-born American composer Tan Dun, visitors are immersed in the magic of a six-minute tale.
Lunar New Year marketplaces and dining locations at the park offer an array of dishes and beverages inspired by Asian cuisines, prepared with a uniquely Disney twist.
Among the flavorful selections are scallion pancake tostada, shrimp fried noodles, kung pao beef and tropical coconut drink.
"Southern California is such a huge melting pot of all kinds of cultures. Lunar New Year celebrations help us to explore Asian cultures, and enhance our understanding about each other," said Rebekah Negrete, a resident of Long Beach, Southern California.
The Chinese New Year celebration, also known as Spring Festival, has been officially inscribed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Negrete said it would help promote the Chinese culture to the world. "It's wonderful that we can all embrace each other's different heritage."
The Lunar New Year festivities at Disney California Adventure Park run from Jan. 17 through Feb. 16.■
留言 0