For the first year every student at Washingtonville High School had January 29th off of school for Lunar new year, but do most students even know what lunar new year is?
Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most significant and widely celebrated festivals in many Asian cultures. It marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and is a time for families to come together, honor ancestors, and welcome the new year with hope and joy.
The celebration typically lasts for 15 days, starting on the first day of the lunar calendar and culminating with the Lantern Festival.
Washingtonville student Sofia Cai explains “ My favorite tradition is receiving red envelopes from my family.These beautifully designed envelopes usually have $50 to $100 in them and are gifted to children as a symbol of good luck for the new year.”
The preparations for Lunar New Year begin well in advance. Red decorations,which symbolize luck and prosperity, are hung up, and many people also paste couplets with auspicious phrases on their doors.Special foods are prepared to ensure a prosperous year ahead.
The celebration kicks off with a family reunion dinner, featuring an abundance of traditional dishes such as dumplings, fish, and rice cakes, each symbolizing wealth, happiness, and longevity. Throughout the festival, various customs and activities take place, including lion and dragon dances, fireworks.
Olivia Tran A Washingtonville Senior stated, “Each Year is represented as a different zodiac animal. 2025 is the year of the snake, and people born under this sign often wear red for good luck.”
The festival culminates on the 15th day with the Lantern Festival, where people light and release lanterns into the sky or set them afloat on water, symbolizing the release of the old and the welcoming of the new.
Lunar New Year is a time of renewal, reflection, and joy, bringing families and communities together to celebrate their heritage and look forward to the future with optimism and hope.
Comments