Maybe it’s because we can’t resist the symbolism of a mighty, majestic and magical dragon. Or perhaps it’s because we can hardly wait for an official date for the return of House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones prequel series. But whatever is driving it, we are more fired up than ever to celebrate this year’s Lunar New Year.

In case you’ve been holed up in a castle and haven’t noticed: It’s the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese Zodiac. And this year’s Lunar New Year — which officially begins on Feb 10 — is already off to an auspicious start. It’s a 15-day celebration that marks the beginning of the new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is a time for symbolic rituals that usher in good luck, abundance and good fortune — from house cleaning to giving (and receiving) little red envelopes with money, celebrating with feasts, festivals and much more.

Lunar New Year’s mainstream popularity has taken off in the U.S. over the past decade. California, which is home to the largest Asian American population in the U.S., began celebrating Lunar New Year as an official state holiday last year and store fronts, restaurants, chocolatiers and more have joined in with gusto to herald the holiday. 

Alexander Wang