The Dia Tang is hosting Lunar New Year celebrations in February and March at the Lynnwood temple. (Kevin Clark/ The Herald)

The Dia Tang is hosting Lunar New Year celebrations in February and March at the Lynnwood temple. (Kevin Clark/ The Herald)

Calling all dogs, this Lunar New Year is for you

Year of the Dog celebrations wag in the new year with dances, music, art and food.

Roosters, finish whatever you’re cock-a-doodle-doing. Your days are numbered.

Soon it will be the Year of the Dog.

The Dog occupies the 11th position in the Chinese zodiac, after the Rooster and before the Pig.

Lunar New Year is tied to the lunar calendar, based on the movement of the moon. Usually, it falls on a day between mid-January and mid-February.

This year, it’s on Feb. 16.

People born in Years of the Dog include 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994 and 2006. The next one will be in 2030.

Some famous (and infamous) dogs are Winston Churchill, Mother Teresa, Elvis Presley, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, George Bush, Steven Spielberg, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, Confucius, Queen Latifah, Andre Agassi, Jane Goodall, Ellen DeGeneres and David Bowie.

According to yourchineseastrology.com, people born in the Year of the Dog are honest, friendly, faithful, loyal, smart, straightforward, venerable and have a strong sense of responsibility. On the negative side, they are likely to be self-righteous, cold, stubborn, slippery, critical of others and not good at social activities.

In addition to big venues, Lunar New Year events are held at schools, senior centers, restaurants, casinos and libraries.

Here are some places to celebrate, regardless of your animal sign.

Edmonds Library, 650 Main St. Learn about the history and traditions of this festival and make paper lanterns and other art activities, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9. Presented by students of Edmonds-Woodway High School’s Chinese Club.

Tet in Seattle, Seattle Center Armory and Fisher Pavilion, 305 Harrison St; tetinseattle.org. The festival celebrating the Vietnamese Lunar New Year is 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb 10 and 11, with lion dances, firecrackers, martial arts, dances, visual arts, authentic foods, ethnic items for sale, workshops and demonstrations. Fashion show at 4 p.m. Feb. 11. Cooking demonstrations are at noon daily. Children’s activities such as coloring, mask making and arts crafts, noon to 4 p.m. Children’s spelling bee, 1:30 p.m. Feb. 10. Knowledge Bowl is 1 p.m. Feb. 11.

Wing Luke Museum, 719 South King St., Seattle; www.wingluke.org. Lunar New Year fair is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 10. The lion dance is at 11 a.m. There are drums, firecrackers and dancers. Create crafts and share New Year stories. “Pet” a New Year animal in stuffed zodiac animal zoo. Kids who complete the passport around the museum receive a ceramic dog money bank as a prize. There’s a Year of the Dog coloring contest for a chance to win $800 gift certificate to The Bellevue Collection.

Seattle’s Chinatown-International District Celebration, Hing Hay Park on Maynard Avenue South and the red Chinatown gate on South King Street; www.cidbia.org. The celebration is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 11. Free admission, with $3 food walk. Events include a lion dance, martial arts demonstrations, Taiko drumming and Thai, Chinese, Hawaiian and Korean dances.

Seattle Symphony’s Celebrate Asia, Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle; www.seattlesymphony.org. The concert is 4 p.m. Feb. 11. Tickets start at $29. Celebrate Asia concert features music by famous Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Indian composers and the Seattle Chinese Orchestra.

Dia Tang/Ksitigarbha Temple Lunar New Year, 1705 Filbert Road, Lynnwood; diatangtemple.org/ceremonies. The Vietnamese temple with Chinese roots hosts about a dozen major ceremonies annually. It is free and open to the public on ceremony days. On Feb. 15, the temple opens at 9 p.m. There is a flower offering to the Buddha from 11:30 p.m. to midnight. A few words from the head monk for the New Year and handing out gifts is from 12:30 to 2 a.m. The First Lunar Full Moon Ceremony is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 4. Events include a dragon dance, Medicine Buddha sutra reading and candle offering, blessing ceremony and a vegetarian lunch for all attendees.

Journeys East, Tulalip Resort Casino, 10200 Quil Ceda Blvd., Tulalip; 360-716-1880; www.tulalipresortcasino.com/Dining/JourneysEast. Special dinners from 5 p.m. to midnight, Feb. 16-18. The restaurant’s regular menu has offerings from Japan, Thailand, China, Korea and Vietnam. Lunar New Year special plates include drunken chicken. Expect to be greeted by staff wearing Happy New Year tiaras.

Everett Community College, Jackson Conference Center, 2000 Tower St.; www.everettcc.edu. Learn about Chinese culture, food and performances, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 20. Sponsored by the International Club and the International Education Department. Free.

Bellevue Collection’s Lunar New Year, 575 Bellevue Square, Bellevue; lunarnewyear.bellevuecollection.com. Celebration is 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 24. Traditional and contemporary cultural demonstrations, including martial arts, music, dance and visual arts. Free.

Lunar New Year 5K, 17500 Midvale Ave. N., Shoreline Interurban Trail, South Central segment. Lion dance at 9:15 a.m. Runners begin at 9:30 a.m. Walkers and leashed pets begin at 9:35 a.m. on Feb. 25. Fundraiser for International Community Health Services Foundation to help pay for the costs of uncompensated care at ICHS.

Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @reporterbrown.

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