Chinese New Year, otherwise known as the Spring Festival, begins on Monday, Feb. 8. This holiday is based on the lunar calendar, rather than the commonly used Gregorian calendar. The date for this celebration falls on the first day of the first lunar month, and changes every year, as Chinese dates are traditionally based off of the phases of the moon.

Festivities and preparations begin on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, such as cleaning of the house, Spring Festival shopping, and creating window decor out of red paper. Traditional foods including nian gao (sticky rice) cake, dumplings, and long noodles are eaten in a large feast on New Year’s Eve.

On New Year’s day, children receive red envelopes containing ‘lucky’ money, families set off firecrackers. It’s common for many families to gather around the TV and watch the CCTV New Year’s Gala, featuring creative acrobatic performances, dances, and skits.

“When Chinese New Year comes around, there’s the hype of waiting to see if they out do what they did last year for the performances,” Jenny Wang ‘19 said. “It’s always fun to see the old actors and hosts come back every year.”

Students at Westwood also find ways to learn more about the holiday at school. Those enrolled in Chinese language classes are able to expand their knowledge of Chinese culture through their studies.

“Every year at this time, we teach something about Chinese New Year,” Chinese teacher Ms. Helen Wang said. “It’s definitely important for students to connect with the culture.”

Students may play Chinese New Year games during class or give oral presentations about how their families and community celebrates the holiday.

“Even though I’m not ethnically Chinese, I like to get involved during Chinese class,” Maanasa Cherukuvada ‘19 said. “It isn’t just about the language, we study the culture and how people celebrate different holidays.”

Chinese New Year provides a great way for students to connect with their culture through various traditions. By spending time with family and exploring Chinese customs, students are able to educate themselves about the Chinese world.