Colorado’s Newest Observed Holiday is Coming Up

During a special ceremony at the State Capitol last year, Colorado Governor Jared Polis put his stamp on a bill to officially recognize a new observed holiday within the Centennial State.

With this action On June 2, 2023, Lunar New Year Day became an official state holiday. In Asian cultures, the holiday is celebrated anywhere from late January to the middle of February but for official holiday purposes, it will be celebrated by Coloradans on the first Friday of every February. Since it's an “observed,” rather than a “fiscal” holiday, state and employers aren’t required to stop business when it comes around.

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The Lunar New Year is the beginning of the new year based on the lunar calendar or lunisolar calendar. As its name suggests, the exact timing is based on the moon’s cycle, which means there is no set date for its start each year. The holiday is also referred to as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival. Asian communities celebrate the festive occasion with food, gifts, and dancing.

According to CBS News, Asian Americans are the fastest-growing population in the U.S. Recognizing this day of importance signifies the inclusion of the Asian culture in America, and more specifically, here in Colorado.

This time around, the holiday falls on February 10, 2024. It is the Official Year of the Wood Dragon according to Chinese culture. Public celebrations and gatherings will be held across the state, including at the Far East Center in Denver.