Before the Jan. 24 Renton City Council meeting, Renton City Council members and Renton community members joined in celebrating the Lunar New Year with a lion dance and proclamation.

“We were honored to host this recognition and celebration of Asian culture. As one of the most significant holidays in greater Asia, Lunar New Year provides a time of forward-looking hope and optimism for the coming year,” said Mayor Armondo Pavone. “Renton is an extremely diverse community, with nearly 25% of our residents of Asian heritage. In understanding and celebrating the cultures that comprise Renton, we become a stronger and more inclusive community.”

Lunar New Year celebrates the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar, according to the National Museum of Asian Art. 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit in China and the Year of the Cat in Vietnam.

During the council meeting, Pavone issued a proclamation designating Sunday, Jan. 22 as Lunar New Year Day in Renton.

Community leaders Duc Tran, CEO of Viet Wah Market, and Tony Au, of the International Lion Dance Martial Arts Team, accepted the proclamation on behalf of Renton’s Asian community, according to the city.

“It is my honor to represent my community and accept this proclamation,” Tran said on Monday. “This city always helps the minorities who live in and work here. Everybody is one family. I hope that by working together, all ethnic groups will contribute to the city’s strong economy. Thank you for including all of us as one family.”

(Courtesy of City of Renton)