In a nationwide first, schools across New York are closed on Wednesday in observance of the Lunar New Year. Why it matters: More local and state jurisdictions in recent years have officially recognized the holiday celebrated by many Asian cultures.

The New York State Education Department says a law prohibits school districts from holding sessions on the Lunar New Year.

Schools did not close for Lunar New Year in the first year of the new law because the holiday fell on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. The date varies from year to year as the Lunar New Year is based on moon cycles; the holiday typically occurs between the end of January and the end of February.