Did you know 2025 will be the Year of the Snake?

The Norton Museum of Art will celebrate the start of that year with its annual Lunar New Year Community Day on Saturday, February 8th, 2025 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The Norton boasts more than 700 objects from China that will be among the star attractions of the Museum’s free annual Lunar New Year Community Day.

The collection, spanning 5,000 years, includes a set of rare paintings depicting a late Ming dynasty (1368-1644) Lantern Festival celebration in the city of Nanjing.

The Lantern Festival concludes the fortnight of New Year celebrations in China, with the intent of bringing good fortune to all, and is still celebrated today.

Countless figures in the six paintings, including immortals, soldiers, children, acrobats, musicians, and court officials, are shown engaged in various aspects of the festivities. The paintings were acquired in 2015 and are only on view once a year as part of the Lunar New Year festivities.

Only two collections in China have anything comparable, according to Laurie Barnes, Elizabeth B. McGraw Senior Curator of Chinese Art. See the paintings January 25-February 16.

“The collection, started by museum founder Ralph Norton, has continued to grow since the Museum’s founding in 1941,” Barnes said. “In addition to the Lantern Festival paintings, the Norton’s collection of both early and late jades is especially noteworthy, and our 10^th century ‘Secret Color’ Yue ware ceramic box is like no other in this country.”

Festivities kick off at the February 7 Art After Dark, with the Florida State University Chinese Music Ensemble’s program Dancing Dragon in Colorful Clouds: Chinese Folk and Traditional Music, featuring an array of Chinese musical instruments and traditions.

Jan Stuart, Melvin R. Seiden Curator of Chinese Art, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, will discuss grand, polychrome lacquer screens, including one example in the Norton’s Collection, and there will be fireworks over the Intracoastal Waterway.

At the February 8 free Community Day, there will be activities for guests of all ages that celebrate 2024 as the Year of the Snake.

Guests can learn from Hao Bang Ah, Snake!, Chinese puppet performance by Chinese Theatre Works that celebrates the wit and wisdom of the animals of the zodiac.

Festivities continue with Dragon and Lion Dances featuring Lee Koon Hung Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu Association. “Storytainer” Monica Ladd will transport guests to another time as she tells traditional Chinese stories, and art activities include making decorated coiled snakes, creating traditional snake lanterns and Fu Calligraphy.

Hungry? The Restaurant will serve snacks to honor the new year.

Lunar New Year Community Day is 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, February 8, at the Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, (561) 832-5196.  Admission and parking are free.

For complete event information, visit our website (see link below)