83R7355 JWI-D

By: Vo H.R. No. 326

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Many Asian American residents of the Lone Star State are celebrating the joyous occasion of the Lunar New Year on February 10, 2013; and

WHEREAS, This special holiday marks the commencement of the Year of the Snake and ushers in the spring season, a new beginning, when the Asian community reflects on the past and makes plans for the future; and

WHEREAS, The snake is considered a symbol of good luck, as ancient wisdom suggests that finding a snake in the house is an omen that the family within will never starve; many in the Asian community believe that the Year of the Snake will be a time of prosperity and peace; and

WHEREAS, The Lunar New Year, known as Tet in the Vietnamese community and as the Spring Festival in the Chinese community, begins on the first day of the first lunar month of the year; the exact date changes annually, falling somewhere between the end of January and the middle of February, but the festive spirit of the season remains constant; and

WHEREAS, The eve of the holiday's three-day festival is spent cleaning houses and ancestral graves and preparing a ceremonial meal; the Lunar New Year traditionally serves as a time to reunite with family members, renew special friendships, and remember past experiences, in preparation for good things to come; and

WHEREAS, The Asian community plays a vital role in the business, professional, and cultural life of Texas, and the Lunar New Year provides a fitting opportunity to recognize these fine citizens and to celebrate our common goals of peace and harmony for all humanity; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the Lunar New Year on February 10, 2013, and extend to all who are celebrating the holiday sincere best wishes for health and happiness in the coming year.