New York becomes first state to close schools statewide for Lunar New Year

In a nationwide first, schools across New York are closed on Wednesday in observance of the Lunar New Year.

Why it matters: More local and state jurisdictions in recent years have officially recognized the holiday celebrated by many Asian cultures.

The holiday falls on different dates each year because of the use of the lunisolar calendar, which is based on the position of the Moon and Sun.
"We are setting a valuable example for other states to follow," Assemblymember Grace Lee (D), said in a statement when New York passed legislation in 2023 to mandate that schools close for the Lunar New Year. Lee also leads the assembly's Asian Pacific American task force.
The holiday fell on a weekend in 2024, so schools weren't in session, making 2025 the first year that schools close statewide for the occasion.

Zoom in: New York's legislation was passed in the wake of rising anti-Asian hate in the U.S., per members of its state legislature.

State Senator John Liu (D), also in 2023, said "we need to make sure our heritage, culture and traditions are treated with the same respect and reverence as any other American holiday."

Zoom out: Specific school districts across the country also gave students the day off.

Some of those include California's San Francisco Unified School District, New Jersey's Minisink Valley Central School District, North Carolina's Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and Massachusetts' Public Schools of Brookline.
Washington state passed legislation last year to designate the Lunar New Year an official holiday and "encouraged" schools to celebrate it.

Go deeper: How lunisolar calendars guide cultures