Governor Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan Host Lunar New Year Celebration, Recognize Asian American Communities

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan hosted a celebration of the Lunar New Year at Government House. The event marked the sixth consecutive Lunar New Year celebration since Governor Hogan took office. More than 200 guests joined the celebration, including dignitaries from embassies, Asian American representatives from the Maryland General Assembly and state agencies, community leaders, and Governor’s Asian Pacific American commissioners.

“Asian American immigrants truly do appreciate the opportunities here in America and understand the value of quality education and working hard in order to provide a better life for the next generations. I have come to understand and appreciate, love our diverse Asian culture,” said Governor Hogan. “Tonight, we recognize the beginning of 2020, which is known as the Year or the Rat, and it is going to be another great year. The First Lady and I do want to wish all of you and your family a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year.”

The Lunar New Year, one of the world’s most prominent festivals, is an important occasion in many Asian traditions and continues to be celebrated by various Asian American communities across Maryland, including 400,000 people from Maryland’s Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese populations. According to the traditional Chinese calendar, this year is 4718th Lunar New Year and it officially begins on January 25, welcoming the Year of the Rat.

Governor Larry Hogan recognized First Lady Yumi Hogan, the first Korean American First Lady in the history of the United States of America and Maryland, for her dedicated, successful endeavor to unite Asian American communities in our state.

Governor Hogan welcoming distinguished guests and explaining those who are born in the Year of Rat are known as energetic, reliable, and clever.

Governor Hogan officially proclaimed 2020 as the Year of the Rat with Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford, U.S. Attorney for District of Maryland Robert Hur, foreign dignitaries, his administration officials, and Asian American elected officials.