Fireworks light up a star-studded sky, spraying red and gold glitter over houses adorned with red decorations. Children run through the streets, sparklers in hand, not expected to be home until dawn breaks. Lanterns and signs flutter in the wind, with wishes of good fortune and luck ringing in the New Year on Jan. 29.
Lunar New Year is celebrated in accordance with the Lunisolar calendar, based on the monthly cycles of the moon. The most important holiday in many Asian cultures (commonly known as the “Spring Festival” in China,) Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of Spring. This year, New York is the first state to recognize Lunar New Year as an official holiday and mandate school closure. Edrin Chen, Chinese teacher, is excited to celebrate the day with her students.
“My Chinese I [class is] going to learn how to make dumplings from scratch,” Chen said. “We’re going to cook them and eat them in class. The higher level students will [go] on a field trip later next month [to celebrate.]”
Carter Chen, Honors Chinese III student, said he is excited to go on the trip with his Chinese class. He also said he is preparing to celebrate the New Year with his family.
“[My family] gets together with my grandma,” Carter said. “We go out to eat somewhere, usually Lulus or Corner 17. Besides the meal, [my siblings and I] get lai see.”
Lai see, Cantonese for “red envelope,” is a traditional gift for elders to give their children and grandchildren. The red envelope, also known as “hong bao” in Mandarin, contains money and represents good fortune in the new year.
“I would really love to have an opportunity to go home to spend the New Year’s celebration with my family back in Taiwan,” Chen said. “That’s the part that I miss the most. I’d like to give the red envelope to all my nieces and nephews.”
Other traditions for Lunar New Year include eating noodles and fish at the family dinner. Noodles symbolize a long life, and fish symbolize abundance and prosperity.
“[Every year,] I wake up at [4 a.m.] to see my family for the New Year’s Eve meal,” Chen said. “It’s the most important meal of the year, so to see my family have the meal [is special to me.]”
Lunar New Year is a 15-day celebration that prioritizes spending time with family. This year is the Year of the Snake, determined by the twelve Zodiac signs in a rotational cycle. Those who are born during the Year of the Snake are said to be intelligent, witty and charming. Chen said that families drop everything to be together during the New Year.
“It’s the most important holiday for the people who celebrate,” Chen said. “To [celebrate] and be together, especially with your families and loved ones.”