Aliana Lloyd, Hana Wanas, Kyle Dang, and Abyan Ali also contributed to this article.
Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, is a holiday marking the end of winter and the transition into spring. For many Asian ethnic groups, this holiday is culturally significant, spanning fifteen days and celebrated through parades, delicious food, and several traditions such as donating wealth in red envelopes. Although the holiday is collectively known as Lunar New Year, it follows a variety of names, such as Tết in Vietnamese, Chūnjié in Chinese, Seollal in Korean, Shōgatsu in Japanese, along many other aliases.
Based on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, the festival can begin anytime from January 21st to February 20th, when the first New Moon appears. The year is typically accompanied by a 12-slotted wheel system containing 12 animals. This year, the Lunar New Year begins on January 29th, to celebrate the year of the Snake: an animal symbolizing wisdom, transformation, and renewal.
To many, the Lunar New Year is taken “more seriously than the actual New Year,” remarked Lewei Ding, math teacher and advisor of the Chinese Culture Club. Its importance in Chinese culture should be regarded as the equivalent of “celebrating a Christmas Day,” mentioned Chen Chen, staff of Ming’s Seafood Restaurant in Malden.
Similar to family gatherings at Christmas, the Lunar New Year typically celebrates “spending time with your loved ones” and appreciating accomplishments “over the past year,” sophomore Ly Nguyen reflected. Many families celebrate by dressing up “in traditional Chinese clothes” and “exchanging red packets,” stated freshman Ivan Zhu and sophomore Ryan Huang, traditions that symbolize good luck and blessings for the upcoming new year.
Many celebrate the New Year differently. Ranging from a spectrum of traditions, some families come together to make and eat foods in a way that holds deep symbolism. For example, several families eat long noodles and attempt to keep them fully intact, representing a “long life,” guidance counselor Amy Yu expressed. Another tradition is making dumplings in the shape of Chinese gold ingots that symbolize wealth and good fortune for the year to come.
Besides food, the main celebration of the traditions comes from the red envelopes and games that various families play. Junior Kwan Wo Li stated his family writes words that you “stick at your doors,” defining the tradition of Spring Festival Couplets. Sophomore Trini Le mentioned taking “money… in red envelopes and gambling with it,” more specifically “like Vietnamese bingo,” supported Nguyen.
ELA teacher Brian Wong reminisced on his family’s beliefs and how they are “not supposed to cry,” as it can “wash away luck.”
Lunar New Year symbolizes a period of development and renewal, where people go through “tough years,” and the fresh start “can instill hope in people,” emphasized guidance counselor Sharon Lee.
Despite the holiday’s abundance throughout the city and school, a small handful of Malden residents have mentioned that the event is not fairly represented in Malden—that there is not enough to celebrate the Lunar New Year. On the contrary, many continue to celebrate the event throughout its two-week span, spending time with those they cherish most, which is essential to the holiday. Having those you care most about spreads the message of a better future and, most importantly, good luck.
