On January 29, the Orange County Board of Supervisors and City of Irvine announced the celebration of Lunar New Year.
Irvine Mayor Larry Agran, along with cultural leaders from the Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese communities, invited residents to City Hall to enjoy the lively and diverse traditions of Asian New Year.
The event featured three Irvine high school students—Allyson Wang, Sierra Lin, and Ethan Huang—who shared Lunar New Year customs.
Irvine Chinese Immersion Academy elementary students performed the original song “Year/Beast,” and parent volunteers showcased a dragon dance.
These performances added a festive atmosphere to the typically formal council chamber, turning it into a celebration for the Year of the Snake.
Mayor Larry Agran highlighted that Asians now make up over 40% of Irvine’s population and play a vital role in the city’s growth.
He invited Vice Mayor James Mai and Councilmembers Melinda Liu and William Go to discuss the traditions and cultural significance of Lunar New Year.
Councilmember Melinda Liu explained that for Chinese people, Lunar New Year represents family reunions and new beginnings.
She introduced the students, who explained customs like giving red envelopes, posting Spring Festival couplets, cleaning to sweep away the old year, eating dumplings for wealth, and performing dragon and lion dances to drive away the "beast."
The event also featured a performance by the Irvine Chinese Immersion Academy students and a dragon dance by parent volunteers, bringing energy and cheer to the celebration.
The event concluded with enthusiastic applause from Mayor Larry, officials, community leaders, and attendees.
橙縣督察委員會與爾灣市政府1/29公開宣佈歡慶農曆新年，爾灣市長Larry Agran更邀請華、韓與越南裔等文化團體領袖與社區民眾到市議會，共同見證農曆新年文化的豐富與多元，場面熱鬧與開心。
尤其三名爾灣公立高中學生在現場分享農曆新年的各種習俗與文化、爾灣公立中英雙語小學生合唱的《年/獸》原創歌曲和學生家長在現場即時的舞龍表演，讓人記憶深刻，也讓原本嚴肅的議事殿堂，因為迎接蛇年的慶典，充滿歡樂開心的新春氣息。
蛇年春節自1/29日開始，包括橙縣督察委員會與爾灣市政府等官方機構，不約而同邀請華、韓與越南族裔文化團體領袖大團圓，並公開認證與慶祝農曆新年，讓亞裔族群在社區的能見度與影響力大幅提升。
爾灣市長Larry Agran在議會中公開表示，亞裔在爾灣市人口比例已超過四成，對爾灣發展與貢獻，舉足輕重，在農曆新年這個重要的日子，大家應該要歡喜同賀。
他隨即邀請市議員Melinda Liu 、William Go與副市長James Mai向受邀到場的亞裔各族裔社區代表與民眾，介紹各族裔農曆新年的傳統與文化風俗。
市議員Melinda Liu表示，對華裔來說，農曆新年是象徵團聚和除舊佈新的重要日子。經由她的邀請，首先包括三名都曾是爾灣中文學校校友、目前都在爾灣公立高中就讀的學生的王奕心、林翔與黃品勳等3人，從容地分別向在場官員與民眾介紹農曆新年習俗與文化。
這其中包含農曆新年要發紅包、貼春聯(驅趕年/獸)和打掃(除舊佈新)、要吃水餃(財富)、年糕和魚(年年有餘)和舞龍、舞獅和放鞭炮(驅趕年/獸)與新年對華人的重要意義。
緊接著由爾灣公立中英雙語小學學生合唱的《年/獸》原創歌曲，讓大家在欣賞優美的歌聲同時，也瞭解農曆新年的由來與對未來的期待。
當歌聲結束，由該校學生家長臨時組成的舞龍隊，由議會座位區最頂端直奔而下，並在議事廳前方持續圍繞打轉，包括市長Larry Agran等官員、各族裔社區代表與現場觀眾，均抱以熱烈掌聲，場面熱鬧非凡。
Behind the scenes：
On January 29th, Irvine Mayor Larry Agran announced the Lunar New Year celebration and invited cultural groups, including Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese, to join the City Council.
The South Coast Chinese Cultural Center and parent volunteers from Irvine Chinese Immersion Academy performed a dragon dance, marking a historic moment.
Mike Chen, former president of the South Coast Chinese Cultural Association, helped the volunteers practice, resulting in a stunning performance that earned loud applause.
幕後花絮：
爾灣市長Larry Agran 1/29公開宣佈慶祝農曆新年，並邀請華、
舞龍不僅著重龍頭指引、龍身起伏與龍尾控制，