El Paso Honors Lunar New Year With Downtown Celebration

The El Paso History Museum invited El Pasoans to join their seventh annual Lunar New Year celebration Feb. 28. The event, made possible with community partnerships and donations, showcased the rich history of Asian cultures in El Paso. 

Held in Cleveland Square Park, the celebration consisted of crafts, learning experiences, traditional games and performances, an artisan market selling food and cultural items and a gallery of the historic Chinatown in southside El Paso. Families from different ethnic groups in El Paso volunteered their time to showcase their traditions and customs to the community.

According to National Geographic, the holiday was developed in China and marks the start of the lunisolar calendar. The tradition was spread to other countries like Korea and Vietnam through trade, warfare and other influences.

“Although it is often referred to as Chinese New Year, it is celebrated far beyond China, and each country has its own traditions,” National Geographic Society details in an article surrounding the holiday. “In China, it is called the Spring Festival or Chūnjié, in Vietnam it is referred to as Tết, and in Korea it is called Seollal.” 

In the El Paso History Museum, Doug Park and his family taught patrons traditional Korean games, dances and the exchanging of red envelopes.

The exchange is traditionally between married adults and unmarried individuals, typically children or younger adults, but employers also might give red envelopes to their workers as a sign of good luck from one generation to another.

“The act of giving and receiving red envelopes transcends a mere financial transaction; it is a carefully choreographed dance of respect, affection, and well-wishing,” explains author Sarah Coleman in her book, “Lunar New Year.”

For Park, sharing his culture with the community is a point of pride. He explains that the celebration is a great opportunity to expose the community to Korean culture as it increases popularity.

“I’ve lived more in El Paso than even in my [own] country,”  Park stated when reflecting on what celebrating with the community meant to him. “I am an El Pasoan and an American, because my root is from Korea. I’m glad to share what we have and what we are to the community.” 

One tradition, Park shared, is eating Tteokguk, a sliced long rice cake, which in Korean culture adds another year on to one’s life, and is one of his favorites.

“South Korea was a small country,”  Park explained when talking about the dish. “We did not have too many resources or animals like cattle. We were always short, so they were hoping to be full once in a while, and one of the days they were full was New Year's Day.”

Another tradition that was seen throughout the event is wearing a traditional Korean Hanbok, a garment typically reserved for special occasions like weddings, funerals and other celebrations. The garment is commonly made from cotton or silk and symbolizes family, abundance and new beginnings.

Doug Park pictured with his daughter dressed in a traditional Hanbok.

Angela Kim being interviewed while dressed in a traditional Hanbok.

Two elders exchanging red envelopes with children in the El Paso History Museum.

Photos by Paula Barquero

While taking photos in the Mexican American Cultural Center, Angela Kim, dressed in the traditional Hanbok, explained that celebrating the holiday with the community is about bringing awareness to the differences in the way countries celebrate.

“A lot of people assume Lunar New Year is more of a Chinese New Year thing, but there are a lot of other East Asian countries that celebrate it,” Kim said.  “It’s nice to bring awareness that a lot of countries celebrate.”

Kim continued by mentioning how the holiday is also about the celebration of loved ones passed. El Paso, largely made up of Mexican-American citizens, celebrates a holiday founded in similar beliefs: Dia De Los Muertos. The Lunar New Year celebration hosted for the city is a way for cultural gaps to be bridged and stronger communities to be built.

“We also celebrate our family members who have passed away,” Kim said. “It’s a day of celebration. A day of gathering. A lot of families gather once a year for this day.” 

The Lunar New Year celebration created a space where the culture and history of these groups in El Paso were honored while engaging families, showcasing traditions and celebrating as a community.

About Me

Kayla Rodriguez is a multi-media journalism student at UTEP, with a minor in graphic design. She has a passion for learning about culture and food. She hopes to write for a magazine after graduation.