Hundreds of Bostonians, performers and elected officials gathered early afternoon Jan. 26 to commemorate the Chinese Lunar New Year with a cultural celebration at Boston City Hall. In accordance with the Chinese calendar and its 12-year cycle of zodiac animals, the community celebrated ahead of the Year of the Snake, which officially began Jan. 29.
The Boston city council first recognized the Lunar New Year as an official city holiday in 2023, with this year marking the second annual festival gala, an event organized to showcase the traditional performances and customs of Chinese culture. The city council established its presence once more this holiday with formal introductions and short speeches aimed at wishing attendees prosperity, good luck and success for the year ahead.
In one memorable address, Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio invited children from the audience to help her sing a celebratory song in Chinese. The event was popular among groups of every age, with families from all around the Boston area gathering kids and the elderly to engage in the joyful community spirit.
Although City Hall prepared rows of folding chairs before the stage, many struggled to find room.
“My two daughters [are] dancing inside … in the white dresses,” said Xiaohe Liu, a 13-year Boston resident who watched the festival for the first time this year. Although Liu’s daughters were part of the Asian dance group performances at the event, she wasn’t able to secure a seat inside the hall due to overcrowding. The mother stood outside, among dozens of others, watching the event through the clear glass, adding that she had dropped off her kids for their performance earlier that morning. Even the cold could not stop Liu from showing up for her kids.
A large turnout also made it difficult for the elderly to enjoy the show as people crowded the steps leading to the stage and seating area sections.
“The only thing I would say is that the venue is not very conducive to older people,” said Paul Kelley, a 20-year Boston resident who works in real estate.
Kelley spent most of his time away from the crowd, leaning on a wooden bench and observing the passionate performers and excited audience members navigating the area.
“They’re sitting on brick steps and so forth,” Kelley said, referencing the lines of people waiting for seats to open up as others took photos and videos of the lively atmosphere.
While the overwhelming popularity of the event created some challenges with seating and accessibility, the event’s captivating performances and enthusiastic crowd made it a day to remember.
For those who did find seating, City Hall offered a close view of a number of traditional dances, vocal performances, martial arts showcases and musical productions from China and surrounding countries. Among the mentioned acts included Qianci Liu, a classically trained Chinese cellist, and the New England Wushu Academy, a martial arts group that combines traditional and modern Chinese combat skills.
The Lunar New Year gala also honored other Asian communities, inviting Indonesian and South Asian students from the Berklee College of Music to perform musical sets ahead of the final acts.
The gala’s concluding events featured an amusing Q&A segment with the crowd where audience members answered questions about the holiday for the chance to win Chinese fans and Lunar New Year posters.
As the festivities continue, Boston will keep the spirit of the Lunar New Year alive well into February. The city will host its annual Chinese New Year Parade next in Phillips Square Feb. 9, showcasing even more performances and dances in the heart of Boston’s Asian community: Chinatown.
