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.

Public school students across the Rochester area and New York State will be off on Wednesday for the Lunar New Year for the first time. The Lunar New Year, which East Asian communities across the globe celebrate,

For students across New York, the upcoming Year of the Snake will start off with a bit more of a bang. Public schools across the state will be celebrating the Lunar New Year on Jan. 29 as an official holiday for the first time.