4 ways to celebrate Lunar New Year in Charlotte

Starting today, Feb. 1 more than 1.5 billion people across the globe will welcome the year of the tiger, particularly in Asian communities.

What the tiger means: It signifies bravery and strength.

The holiday comes with superstitions, like don’t wash or cut your hair on the first day of the new year, because it is means you are washing your fortune away, CNN Travel wrote. Don’t buy shoes during the month of Lunar New Year, but you should wear red, which is connected to luck and prosperity. 

Details: Lunar New Year lasts different lengths. For instance:

• In China, it lasts for 15 days and is known as Chūnjié in Mandarin.
• Tết Nguyên Đán, also known as just Tết, in Vietnamese culture lasts one week. 
• Koreans call it Seollal, and it lasts for three days.

Here are ways you can celebrate in Charlotte:

1. Three Stripes Lion Dance performance 

Three Stripes Lion Dance has several performances scheduled for Feb. 4-5 in Charlotte and the surrounding area. View the full list here.

2. Resident Culture Brewing Co. Plaza Midwood festival

Catch Hung Gar Kung Fu Academy‘s traditional lion dance with accompanying music. This will also be the grand opening The Dumpling Lady’s permanent food truck residency at Resident Culture Brewing Co. The Dumpling Lady food truck hours will be: Monday-Friday 5-9 pm, Saturday noon-9 pm and Sunday noon-8pm.

• Location: 2101 Central Ave.
• Date: Feb. 5
• Time: Noon until 11pm. Performances begin at at 6pm.

3. Devil’s Logic Brewing’s Chinese New Year Celebration 

Queen City Lion Dance will perform as Devil’s Logic Brewing rings in the year of the tiger.

• Location: 1426 E. 4th St.
• Date: Feb. 5
• Time: 2pm-7pm. Performance starts at 4 pm.

4. Resident Culture Brewing Co. South End festival

If you can’t make it to Plaza Midwood, South End has a similar lineup. The Dumpling Lady will have a limited special menu for the festival.

• Location: 332 W. Bland St.
• Date: Feb. 6
• Time: Noon until 10pm. Performances start at 3pm.