Every year, millions of people around the world come together to embrace the joyous celebrations of Lunar New Year with vibrant culture, decorations, food, and family. During this holiday many customs are followed, including family reunions and dinners, honoring ancestors, and giving out red money envelopes. This centuries-old holiday marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and is deeply rooted in family and cultural heritage. This Lunar New Year, we get to take a closer look at how students from our very own Edison High celebrate this occasion.
Sheila Lin ‘28 gave some insight into some of her traditions. In her family, people clean the house and throw away old things from the last year to get a fresh start for the new year. Since she lives with her grandparents, Lin follows many superstitions, like not pointing at the moon.
Red decorations are also a must, representing good fortune, happiness, and prosperity. This tradition goes back to an old tale in which an evil red creature terrorized people on New Year’s Eve until one day, using red firecrackers, the people scared this beast.
“Overall, it is just a very fun and casual holiday that you get to spend with your loved ones,” said Lin.
As a tribute to the holiday, EHS hosts an annual Lunar New Year potluck. The event gathers students, staff members, and families to come together and celebrate. Students brought a variety of diverse dishes while arranging different activity stations, which included karaoke, origami, dumpling making, smack slippers, chopsticks, and character writing.
The event’s main focus was to cultivate a strong sense of community while celebrating the richness of Chinese culture. Although there is a social benefit to this, the event also helps “celebrate the new year with prosperity and good fortune,” said Chinese Cultural Club president Brittany Lin ‘25.
Lin also mentioned some superstitions that are associated with this celebration. This includes avoiding arguments, washing hair, cleaning, and speaking negatively, as these actions contribute to the circulation of negative energy. In terms of clothing, in Chinese culture, it is best to avoid wearing dark colors, and more so be coded in red or gold, to represent good luck. These are some common superstitions, but this might vary between people depending on their preferences and their beliefs

At Edison High, Lunar New Year is a time for students to celebrate culture, community, and tradition. Through family customs and events like the Chinese Cultural Club’s potluck, students come together to share food, festivities, and good fortune. By embracing these traditions, the school fosters a sense of unity, reminding everyone that cultural celebrations are a bridge that brings people closer together.