New York State Recognizes Lunar New Year as an Official Holiday

On September 9 (local time), New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had signed a law recognizing Lunar New Year (or Tet Nguyen Dan) as an official holiday for all public schools in New York State (USA).

Allowing public schools to have a day off for Lunar New Year is an “important step” in recognizing the Asian American community and New York state’s rich ethnic diversity, Hochul said.

The Governor of New York believes that Lunar New Year is not just a holiday but also an opportunity for young people to learn and honor the cultural traditions of their own people or other peoples.

Lunar New Year celebrations in New York. (Photo: Rove)

In December 2014, then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill making Lunar New Year a legal holiday in New York state's heavily Asian schools.

In June 2015, then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that public schools in New York City (NYC) would have a day off for Lunar New Year.

For Lunar New Year 2023, California will also allow state employees to take eight hours off for the first time. California Governor Gavin Newsom said that signing the law recognizing Lunar New Year is to "recognize the diversity and cultural significance that Asian Americans bring to California.

Also earlier this year, Rep. Grace Meng introduced a new bill to recognize Lunar New Year as a federal holiday in the United States.

Hua Yu (Source: China News)

Source: https://vtc.vn/my-bang-new-york-cong-nhan-tet-am-lich-la-ngay-nghi-le-chinh-thuc-ar818955.html