The Center’s Lunar New Year Community Celebration
By Gus Hernandez
Wisdom, transformation, and introspection—These are the hallmarks of those born in the Year of the Snake according to the lunar calendar. Individuals born under this sign are known for their insight, strategic thinking, intuition, patience, and elegance. As we approach the Lunar New Year, The San Diego LGBT Community Center invites you to join in celebrating these qualities and more at our Lunar New Year Community Celebration on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, from 6-8 p.m.
More Than a Celebration
This event is more than just a celebration; it is a vibrant showcase of San Diego’s rich cultural diversity and an opportunity for our Asian Pacific Islander (API) LGBTQ community to connect and be part of a space of belonging. Attendees can look forward to an evening filled with delicious food, captivating performances, and the opportunity to support local businesses and artists.
Mini Night Market
The Lunar New Year Celebration will once again host a Mini Night Market, featuring a variety of goods from local restaurants and artisans. The Mini Night Market provides a unique chance to engage with our community and enjoy the variety of offerings our vendors have for sale. Come by to check out the beautiful artwork and delicious food!
San Diego’s Diversity
San Diego stands out as one of the most diverse counties in the United States, largely due to its status as a binational region with a long history of immigration and refugee resettlement. The city is home to historic API communities, particularly in areas like the Convoy District, Mira Mesa, and National City. These communities have deep roots and countless stories that contribute to the rich tapestry of present-day San Diego.
The Importance of Immigrants to San Diego
Making up approximately 21.55% of San Diego County’s population, immigrants play a crucial role in preserving and celebrating cultural traditions. While most immigrants in San Diego come from Mexico, the second largest group of immigrants are from the Philippines.
Immigrants contribute significantly to the local economy, particularly through small businesses such as restaurants, grocery stores, and specialty shops. These businesses often see a surge in activity during the Lunar New Year, providing economic benefits to the wider San Diego community.
Lunar New Year – The Year of the Snake
While not all Asian cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year, many do including Chinese, South Korean, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysian, Filipino, and Indonesian communities. This year, the Lunar New Year falls on January 29, 2025 marking a time of renewal and celebration.
In recognition of the vast diversity and significant presence of API communities in San Diego, The Center is committed to creating intentional opportunities for engagement. The Lunar New Year Community Celebration is designed to bring people together in a spirit of inclusivity and mutual respect.
The Center’s work to meaningfully include API folks in our space is part of a broader mission to foster a welcoming and supportive environment for all. By hosting events like the Lunar New Year Community Celebration, The Center aims to highlight the contributions of API communities in San Diego and promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of their cultural heritage.
Coming Together
Spaces of joy for our intersectional, diverse communities like The Center’s Lunar New Year Celebration are vital. With the unsettling local and national upward trend of anti-API and anti-LGBTQ hate, our communities must come together to protect our spaces of joy, care, celebration, and life. Cultural traditions that bring us together ground us in community and sustain us in the fight to live vibrantly.
Lunar New Year marks new beginnings for our community. As we gift red envelopes to our loved ones and share delicious food with one another, we must remember to honor where we have come from.
Your Community, Your Center
Everyone is welcome to join this celebration, regardless of background or identity. The event promises to be a joyous occasion filled with cultural sharing, community bonding, and festive cheer. Whether you are looking to learn more about the traditions associated with the Lunar New Year or simply want to enjoy a night of good food and entertainment, The Center’s celebration is the place to be.
Join us on January 22, 2025
Mark your calendars for January 22, 2025, and come be a part of this special event. Celebrate all that the Year of the Snake promises to bring and join us in continuing such integral community traditions that make San Diego a unique and vibrant place to live.
For more information about the Lunar New Year Community Celebration and other events hosted by The Center, visit https://www.thecentersd.org. Let’s come together and hold space to celebrate the start of a new lunar year with joy and unity.