Panda Express Celebrates Lunar New Year With ‘Lunarsgiving’

Panda Express is reaching out to its customers in the spirit of celebration with a new promotion to celebrate Lunar New Year. The company calls it “Lunarsgiving.”

Panda Express Introduces Festive Lunar New Year Experiences

Panda Express is the largest family-owned and operated Asian dining eatery in the United States. Therefore, in the spirit of community, the eatery is planning a series of Lunar New Year initiatives to bring its customers together and teach them about a beloved Asian tradition, according to a recent press release.

“As a cultural ambassador, Panda Express is committed to sharing the vibrant spirit of Lunar New Year with our communities,” said Andrea Cherng, chief brand officer at Panda Express. “This year, we are excited to introduce Lunarsgiving, a new initiative that celebrates shared meals and meaningful experiences, fostering deeper connections.”

Cherng’s statement continued, “Our short film, ‘The Invitation,’ beautifully captures the essence of Lunar New Year, highlighting the joy of coming together through food. We are also thrilled to continue our Let’s Explore!: Lunar New Year program, offering free and interactive curriculum to help educators bring these rich traditions into the classroom.”

The idea of sharing good food over a festive meal is one of the core ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year. To share the experience with those outside the Asian culture, the press release explained that Panda Express will host immersive Lunarsgiving experiences near three college campuses across the U.S. in Columbia, Missouri; Tempe, Arizona; and Orlando, Florida.

These three locations will be “transformed into vibrant cultural hubs filled with festivity and excitement,” and Panda Express customers who purchase an in-store Family Meal will receive an exclusive Lunarsgiving Kit as a gift while supplies last. The components of the kit include lanterns, red envelopes, banners, and dining accessories.

To continue both the celebration and savings, Panda Express will host a Buy One, Share One Plate event in-store only from 7 to 9 p.m. local time. Attendees will receive a special Lunarsgiving tote bag for them and a guest while supplies last.  

What Is Lunar New Year?

Lunar New Year, which falls on Jan. 29 this year, is one of the most significant holidays in Asian cultures. It celebrates the beginning of the new year on the lunisolar calendar. It’s also known as the Spring Festival in China, and each year is associated with one of the dozen Chinese Zodiac animals.

2025 is the year of the Wood Snake. This is the sixth animal on the 12-year cycle and is meant to symbolize wisdom, growth, renewal, and transformation, according to Newsweek.

Typically, homes are decorated with the color red for the holiday. It is a symbol of luck.

To celebrate, many Asian families gather together to enjoy a meal. Many communities host a Lantern Festival, and children are gifted money in red envelopes for luck.