By: Hannah Kim and Valeria Gutierrez

   Starting on February 17th this year, Lunar New Year marked the end of winter and the start of spring. At MRHS, it was celebrated a few weeks earlier, on February 13th, with an event seeking to commemorate the 2026 Year of the Horse.

   Lunar New Year aligns with the traditional lunisolar calendar which is based on the moon’s phases. The holiday falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, hence why it’s different every year. Despite common belief, China isn’t the only country that celebrates Lunar New Year; Vietnam, Korea, Indonesia and other countries in East and Southeast Asia also do.

   This holiday is the time for delicious foods that have important meanings behind them. In China, eating jiaozi (dumplings) is said to bring wealth and good fortune because they are shaped like silver or gold ingots. In Vietnam, eating canh kho tau (stuffed bittermelon) symbolizes a “bitter passing” to represent overcoming hardships. Tteokguk (rice cake soup) is eaten in Korea because the rice cakes are shaped like coins and signify wealth and prosperity. 

   Another important tradition is dressing up in traditional clothes. In China, wearing a qípáo (a high collared dress that has a slit) or a tangzhuang (a jacket with a Mandarin collar with knotted buttons) symbolizes a fresh start for the new year. In Vietnam, people wear a tunic over pants called an Áo Dài. In Korea, wearing a hanbok that includes multiple layers with elegant garments symbolizes purity. All of these traditional clothes are worn in red because it symbolizes good fortune, joy, prosperity and vitality. Many wear these clothes while visiting temples, shrines or graves to pay respect to ancestors. 

   Other traditions include gathering as a family for a New Year’s Eve dinner, launching fireworks to drive away evil, giving or receiving red envelopes with money in them, and doing a deep clean a few days before Lunar New Year to signify the removal of the old and welcoming of the new. 

   “On Lunar New Year, we have these red packets called hóngbāo and the elders who are married give it to the children. In return, you give them two tangerines or mandarin oranges,” sophomore Nyah Salters explained. 

   Many students would not cut their hair after Lunar New Year because doing so is considered bad luck. It’s also a tradition to clean the house to get rid of any bad luck and wear fresh clothes to start the new year strongly. Unlike the resolutions that are made on western New Years, the resolutions are mainly focused on family and prosperity rather than self improvement. 

   “Before Chinese New Year, you aren’t supposed to cut your hair, because if you cut your hair on Chinese New Year or after, you’ll lose luck for the whole year,” senior Jeff Lin shared.

   To celebrate Lunar New Year, Marriotts Ridge’s Chinese Honor Society, Chinese Class and Chinese Club, and the Mount View Middle School class came together to organize an event highlighting different aspects of the holiday and Southeast and East Asian culture. There were food and games as well as over 30 performances from middle schoolers, high schoolers and even teachers. Some of the highlights of the event included a fashion show showcasing traditional Japanese, Chinese, Korean and other Asian countries’ clothing; traditional Chinese songs and dances; and a Chinese Yo-Yo battle. 

   Both Mount View Middle School and Marriotts Ridge’s dedication have made a huge impact in making this year one of the best attended since they started doing these events in 2014. 

   “We’ve been practicing, spending the month before the event to get ready, do some rehearsal and decide what we were doing,” Chinese teacher Mrs. Liu explained. 

   This event is all about students coming together and celebrating Lunar New Year together. No one is left out and everyone is welcome. 

“It’s very important for the community. We have a lot of students from Asia, so they would really appreciate this kind of event happening in our school,” Ms. Liu stated. 

   Lunar New Year is all about bonding with family, eating delicious foods and welcoming a new year. It is such a wonderful holiday to bring everyone together and embrace different cultures. Let us all welcome the Year of the Horse!