Year of the Rabbit begins February 3, 2011 

          The 15 day celebration of the Chinese New Year begins on February 3, 2011.  We wish everyone, especially our many Chinese friends, a Happy Chinese New Year.  The Chinese New Year celebration, known as Spring Festival in China, has origins dating back to the Shang Dynasty (1600-1100 B.C.) and is celebrated after the previous Fall harvest and before the upcoming Spring planting season.  The Year of the Rabbit is remarkable in China for another important reason.  It marks the 100 Year Anniversary of the beginning of modern China.  In 1911 Dr. Sun Yat-sen lead the revolution against the last dynasty in China, the Qing Dynasty, setting the course for change in his country.  Dr. Sun is revered in both the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China (Mainland China) for his role in improving the lives of the Chinese people.  In the United States, the Chinese New Year festivities give us another opportunity to celebrate the many contributions that Chinese Americans have made throughout the history of our country and their essential role in What Makes US Great!  Happy Chinese New Year!