Celebrate Lunar New Year at Panda Express

Feb. 5, 2019, marks the beginning of Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, and the Year of the Pig in the Chinese zodiac. The celebration dates back thousands of years and more than 20 percent of the world celebrates the holiday.

Lunar New Year is marked by family and friends coming together to feast and welcome the new year. A variety of lucky foods are traditionally eaten for their symbolic meaning surrounding either their Chinese pronunciation  or physical appearance—with individual dishes representing specific aspects of good fortune. For example:

• Egg rolls symbolize wealth
• Chow mein noodles symbolize long life
• Shrimp symbolize happiness

Another tradition of Lunar New Year is the giving of red envelopes, called hong bao in Mandarin. These monetary gifts are presented at social and family gatherings to children and unmarried adults during Lunar New Year. The color red symbolizes good luck and is said to ward off evil spirits.

To bring good fortune to your family this year, visit your nearest Panda Express location to celebrate Lunar New Year beginning Feb. 5. You can also make your own red envelope donation to kids treated at Tucson Medical Center at the register.

Find your nearest Panda Express here.

In 2018, Tucson Panda Express employees and customers donated more than $220,000 to support the pediatric patients at TMC for Children. Your generosity helped purchase life-saving medical equipment and provide health and safety programs to our community.

Thank you Panda Express for your continued support! See you on Feb. 5 to celebrate Lunar New Year!