Celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Dragon at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s family-friendly Winter Festival!
Start the day with fiery drums, and end with a thrilling performance by lion and dragon dancers.
Enjoy art-making activities with family and friends: Create paper lanterns, practice calligraphy, decorate wooden plaques for good fortune, paint cherry blossoms, and more. Plus indulge in foods representing East Asian cuisines, available for purchase from local vendors.
While Japan’s official and cultural New Year’s Day now falls on the first day of January, this was not always the case. In fact, prior to the Meiji Period, Japan observed the new year in accordance with the lunisolar calendar. A few traces of Japan’s once celebrated lunar new year traditions have survived through the commemoration of setsubun (節分) — literally meaning the seasonal (節) division (分) that marks the change from one season to the next.
This day, which falls on February 3, is celebrated with mamemaki, or bean throwing, at home, schools and in the community. Mamemaki is a symbolic act meant to drive away evil spirits and misfortune. Roasted soybeans are thrown at an oni or ogre while shouting “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” meaning “Out with the demons! In with good fortune!”
JASH would like your help in introducing Japan’s Setsubun traditions to Winter Festival attendees.
Volunteer with JASH and provide kids of all ages with the opportunity to make their own oni mask and participate in mamemaki through an game of oni cornhole.
To join the JASH’s volunteer team, please complete the form below: