New Years All Year Round

On view January 21 – June 18, 2017

Uwajimaya & Moriguchi Family KidPLACE

Encounter the Lion – Learn the many show stages within the Lion Dance. Photo by Truong Nguyen, www.smileitsyou.com

Asian Pacific Islander Americans come from many communities, each with its own New Year celebration. This year we feature New Years from the Chinese, Laotian and Polynesian American communities, along with the Indian American Festival of Lights.

Visit next year to learn more about New Years from other Asian Pacific Islander American communities.

Visit our Tours page to find out more about arranging a guided New Years tour for your school class or youth group.

Give a New Year Blessing – During the baci, or festivals, for the Lao New Year, people tie cotton strings around each others’ wrists for blessings. Write a wish, tie a string and give someone blessings for the New Year. Courtesy of Khamoui Sikhanthat

Make Some Music – Members of Halau O Manuakepa share their love for hula at the 2008 Living Aloha festival at the Seattle Center. Kumu Hula (hula teacher) ‘Iwalani Christian is seated on the stage and plays the ipu. Strike the pu’ili (bamboo sticks) in the exhibit to make your own rhythmic sound. Photo courtesy of Stan Dahlin

Book List

Compiled by Erica Sternin, Children’s Librarian, Columbia Branch Library, The Seattle Public Library and the Wing Luke Museum

Chinese New Year in the United States
Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin
Cat and Rat: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac by Ed Young
Chinese New Year’s Dragon by Rachel Sing
D Is for Dragon Dance by Ying Chang Compestine
Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn
The Star Maker by Laurence Yep This Next New Year by Janet S. Wong

Diwali: Festival of Lights
Lighting a Lamp: A Diwali Story by Jonny Zucker
Lights for Gita by Rachna Gilmore

Hawaiian Culture Group
Girls’ Day-Boys’ Day by Minako Ishii
Grandma Calls Me Beautiful by Barbara M. Joosse
The Island-Below-The-Star by James Rumford
Naupaka by Nona Beamer
Pig Boy: A Trickster Tale from Hawa‘i by Gerald McDermott
Princess Ka’iulani By Sharon Linnea
The Shark King by R. Kikuo Johnson
Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku by Ellie Crowe
Trouble Magnet by Graham Salisbury

Lao and Hmong Culture Group
Jouanah, A Hmong Cinderella by Jewell R. Coburn
Little Cricket by Jackie Brown
Mali Under the Night Sky: A Lao Story of Home by Youme
Moon Bear by Gill Lewis
Piecing Earth and Sky Together: A Creation Story from the Mein Tribe of Laos by Nancy R. Day

Sponsors and Community Partners

Annual Support

The Wing Donors
Ford Foundation
ArtsFund
Seattle Office of Arts & Culture
4Culture

Major Sponsor

The Robert Chinn Foundation

Friend

Confucius Institute of the State of Washington