PRINTER'S NO. 3159
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
675
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY DONATUCCI, MALAGARI, KINSEY, BIZZARRO, HEFFLEY,
KIM, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, MILLARD, READSHAW, KORTZ,
A. DAVIS, FREEMAN, MURT, YOUNGBLOOD, WILLIAMS, SCHLOSSBERG,
BROOKS, FRANKEL, ISAACSON, NEILSON AND ROEBUCK,
JANUARY 17, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 17, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing January 25, 2020, as "Chinese New Year" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is home to a diverse array of
residents with various faiths, beliefs and traditions; and
WHEREAS, Among the residents of this Commonwealth, the Asian-
American and Pacific Islander population has grown
exponentially; and
WHEREAS, The most significant and widely celebrated holiday
in the Asian community is "Chinese New Year" or Lunar New Year;
and
WHEREAS, "Chinese New Year" falls on the first day of the
lunar calendar and begins this year on January 25 and lasts for
a period of 15 days; and
WHEREAS, During this time, families participate in a
multitude of traditions, including cleaning their entire homes,
having reunion dinners, setting off fireworks, using extravagant
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decorations and exchanging red packets, known as hóngbāo,
because red is customarily an auspicious color; and
WHEREAS, The origins of "Chinese New Year" begin with the
mythical beast called "Nian," which would come out to harm
animals, people and property on the night before the start of
the new year; and
WHEREAS, After people discovered that Nian feared the color
red, fire and loud sounds, they began posting decorative crafts
in front of their homes, launching fireworks and hanging up
lanterns during the end of the year; and
WHEREAS, The 12 Chinese zodiac animals that accompany each
"Chinese New Year" are ranked in order based on the legend of
the Heavenly Gate Race; and
WHEREAS, After deciding that time would be segmented into
cycles of 12 years, the Heavenly Gate Race was held by the Jade
Emperor to determine which animals would guard each cycle of
time; and
WHEREAS, The first of the animals to finish the race would
receive a better ranking and the order became Rat, Ox, Tiger,
Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and
Pig; and
WHEREAS, Marking a new cycle of time, the "Year of the Rat"
begins January 25, 2020, and lasts until February 11, 2021; and
WHEREAS, "Chinese New Year" embodies the values of family and
community that are shared by many residents of this
Commonwealth; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize January
25, 2020, as "Chinese New Year" in Pennsylvania.
20200HR0675PN3159 - 2 -
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