The Lunar New Year, which marks the arrival of spring, is one of the most important celebrations of the year in East and Southeast Asian culture. It typically begins with the first new moon in late January or early February and lasts until the full moon arrives, 15 days later. This year’s Lunar New Year begins on Jan. 22, 2023.

In the U.S., Lunar New Year is predominantly celebrated by East Asian and East Asian diasporic communities. Because of its importance to these communities, Governor Newsom introduced Lunar New Year as a state holiday in 2022.

Celebrating the Lunar New Year at UCOP

Regardless of how you choose to welcome the Lunar New Year, the Asian-American Pacific Islander Staff Association (APISA) encourages you to share your celebrations with UCOP colleagues.

Remote, hybrid and on-site teams

• Download a UC Lunar New Year Zoom background
• Meet virtually to enjoy a take-out lunch from your local Asian restaurant
• Focus a team check-in around reflections on Lunar New Year themes
• Encourage colleagues to share their Lunar New Year traditions

On-site colleagues and teams

• Have a team lunch outing or enjoy takeout together from a local restaurant in Chinatown, Oakland, or an Asian restaurant near your UCOP location
• Take a team walking tour or snack break in Chinatown, Oakland

Taking time off for Lunar New Year

If you take time off for Lunar New Year, record this time as PTO in TRS. Help APISA spread awareness about the importance of the Lunar New Year by noting that you are taking time off to celebrate in your PTO request. APISA has put together a toolkit with sample PTO requests and out-of-office replies to support your efforts.

APISA is currently engaged in discussions with UCOP leadership around aligning our time off requests for the Lunar New Year with the 2022 California law providing holiday credit for state employees.

More ways to celebrate

In addition to Lunar New Year, there are many other celebrations that mark the new year throughout Asia. Learn about more Asian new year celebrations.

For questions, contact Aimee.Chang@ucop.edu.

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