Cultural Celebrations

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month recognizes and honors the contributions, achievements, and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans who have shaped the culture and history of the United States.

Chuseok or “autumn eve” is the annual Korean three-day festival celebrating the end of summer and the autumn harvest.

Celebrated in October, Filipino American (Fil-Am) History Month honors the history, pursuits, accomplishments, and legacy of Filipinos in the United States. It also serves to provide a link between Filipinos in the U.S. and Filipinos in the Philippines by showcasing their shared culture and heritage.

Diwali is known as the Festival of Lights and comes from the Sanskrit word, Dipawali, which literally means “row of lights.” Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs around the world to mark the beginning of the new year according to the Indian lunar calendar, and falls on the darkest night of the year, usually in late October or early November.

For more than three decades, the Asian Art Museum has installed its Japanese temple bell on-site in preparation for the annual Bell Ringing Ceremony.

Welcome the Lunar New Year with virtual events, art-making, and storytelling.

Nowruz, or Persian New Year, is celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox, which marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Nowruz is a symbol of renewal and its important themes are reverence for nature, respect for family and community, doing good deeds, and forgiveness.