Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is a holiday where families gather together to celebrate the beginning of a new year on the lunar calendar. This year, it falls on Wednesday, January 29.
It is a common tradition to celebrate with a big family reunion dinner. Senior Grace Trinh, National Chinese Honor Society officer, explains some of the dishes that are commonly eaten on Lunar New Year.
“People will make specific items such as dumplings or…rice balls or something that is round or flat that represents coins or fortune,” Trinh said.
There are also other traditions that are practiced during this holiday such as lighting fireworks, red envelopes, and parades.
“We come together and we make food and we try out different recipes every year,” Trinh said. “We…figure out our fortunes based on our zodiacs.”
A popular dessert that many people love is moon cakes. These are almost always found on the tables of those celebrating.
“We eat different kinds of mooncakes like salty ones or ones with egg yolks inside,” freshman Winnie Xiao said.
Above all, Chinese New Year is a way for communities to reconnect and spend time with their families.
“To me, Chinese New Year is a way to reconnect with my family and the community that I grew up in as Asian Americans in the greater Houston area,” Trinh said.
