HP 1508

STATE OF MAINE
  _____
  IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
  TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX
  _____
  JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING LUNAR NEW YEAR
  CELEBRATIONS AND THE YEAR OF THE HORSE
     WHEREAS, Lunar New Year 2026, ushering in the Year of the Horse, was celebrated
starting on February 17, 2026; and
    WHEREAS, Lunar New Year begins on the second new moon following the Winter
Solstice, or the first day of the new year according to the lunisolar calendar, and extends until
the full moon 15 days later; and
   WHEREAS, Lunar New Year began in China more than 4,000 years ago and is now
widely celebrated in East and Southeast Asia, including Seollal in South Korea and Tet Nguyen
Dan in Vietnam; and
    WHEREAS, both those from Asia and those who are part of the Asian diaspora have
expanded the Lunar New Year celebration into an annual, weeklong, worldwide event that is
celebrated by over a billion people across the globe; and
    WHEREAS, Lunar New Year is a time for family and friends to gather, during which
elders present red envelopes to younger family members and all extend wishes of good fortune,
health, prosperity and happiness; and
     WHEREAS, Lunar New Year increases the visibility of important cultural traditions
celebrated widely among the Asian diaspora amid the ongoing struggles that the community
faces, particularly regarding the experiences of invisibility, hatred and violence; now, therefore,
be it
   RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Legislature
now assembled in the Second Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, take this
opportunity to join in celebrating Lunar New Year, a cultural tradition observed by many
Mainers and over a billion people worldwide; and be it further
     RESOLVED: That the Legislature recognizes the importance of celebrating and uplifting
the traditions, customs and values of Lunar New Year in order to provide visibility and safety
to a community that experiences ongoing marginalization; and be it further
    RESOLVED: That the Legislature encourages local, state and national observances of
Lunar New Year and the promotion of educational programs to inform the public about the
history, symbolism and cultural significance of this holiday; and be it further
    RESOLVED: That the Legislature reaffirms its commitment to recognizing and respecting
cultural traditions that enrich the social fabric of Maine and contribute to its vibrant
multicultural identity.
  Page 1 - 132LR3068(01)