Lunar New Year – also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival – begins on February 12, 2021, marking the end of the Year of the Rat, and the beginning of the Year of the Ox. The annual event is celebrated in various East Asian countries and in many other parts of the world with feasts, fireworks and parades. For many, Lunar New Year is a weeks-long celebration marked by various rituals and traditions that are meant to usher in good luck for the coming year.

At Portland International Airport, we know that our diversity makes us stronger. Join us throughout the month in celebrating Lunar New Year!

YEAR OF THE OX

Each Lunar Year is marked by an animal from the Chinese zodiac, which consists of 12 animals and cycles through over 12 years. The Lunar New Year animal for 2021 is the Ox. which is the second sign in the Chinese zodiac calendar. Oxen are seen as hardworking, reliable, positive and honest, and according to Chinese astrologers, people born in Ox years are trustworthy and faithful. Recent years of the Ox are 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and 2009. 

TRADITIONS

With more than 1.5 billion people that celebrate the Lunar New Year, the holiday is rich in tradition. Some of these traditions include sweeping of the grounds to drive away misfortune, negative spirits and bad karma, family reunions, parades and fireworks to ward off bad spirits, gifting tangerines and oranges, and cooking and dining traditional dishes.

One popular tradition associated with the holiday is the distribution of red envelopes (called lai see in Cantonese, hóng bāo in Mandarin and lì xì in Thai) filled with money. The envelopes are typically given by older relatives to younger children, a custom that has evolved over the years and originated from a time when people would swap coins to ward off evil spirits.

LOCAL BUSINESS

As the world continues to reel from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, now is a great time to show support for the local business community. If you need to travel or if you are helping keep PDX running, please consider supporting the Asian-owned/run businesses in the airport. To name a few, these businesses include: Bambuza, Bangkok Xpress, Hisso Sushi, Made in Oregon, and Panda Express. Please check the website for up-to-date hours of operation.

SPECIAL PROMOTION

We teamed up with AtYourGate to help celebrate Lunar New Year. AtYourGate is an in-airport food and retail mobile ordering and delivery service. If you're at the airport between 2/15/21 until 2/28/21, get yourself a free delivery by using the code "CNY." Enjoy!