Nestled on top of school papers in each student’s mail slot, bright red envelopes with gold lettering and designs gleamed against the grey of the mailbox. Inside each envelope was a crisp one-dollar bill and a large chocolate coin, which was wrapped in a shining yellow foil that easily captivated young eyes. In my elementary school, this small paper goody bag always served as an appetizer to the grander festivities that would follow in celebration of Lunar New Year, which is also called Chinese New Year.
At the end of weeks of decorating, learning Korean and Chinese traditional New Year songs transliterated into English, and making animal puppets out of paper plates, everyone gathered in the school gymnasium for a stunning repertoire of dances and songs. Parents were awed by the fan dances and ribbon dance performed by the dance club, as well as the parade of colorful papier-mâché Chinese zodiac animals bowing to each other, symbolizing the progression of zodiac years and their respective animals. Students, many dressed in traditional garments, warbled through the songs while waving their puppets in time. As for the third graders, the highlight was their performance of a dragon dance: each student’s legs peeking out under the ornate and vibrant dragon costume were bent in succession, undulating the dragon’s body as it shook its head from side to side.
However, in my household, the first day of the solar calendar receives more fanfare than Lunar New Year because it has effectively replaced it by keeping Lunar New Year customs. I wear my hanbok (Korean traditional dress), eat rice cake soup with dumplings with my relatives, and perform a special bow to uncles, aunts, parents, and grandparents to wish them a good year. When Lunar New Year comes along, it is a weak duplicate that includes eating rice cake soup with a lesser amount and variety of side dishes, making the hanbok optional to wear, and bowing unnecessary. With its main customs performed earlier on, Lunar New Year becomes somewhat redundant and half-heartedly celebrated.
At the same time, Lunar New Year gives another occasion to celebrate in a small way, especially if things are getting monotonous. This year, Lunar New Year fell on February 12, the day before a three-day weekend. As it was a good opportunity to honor the day and reminisce about past celebrations, I decided to make some New Year’s decorations while singing Lunar New Year tunes, as well as eat a good meal, even if it was not a bowl of rice cake soup. I used as many colors as I could when coloring decorations to emulate the flamboyance of the animal costumes that so fascinated me in my elementary school Chinese zodiac parade. It was a miniature celebration that boosted my mood and creativity, bringing to mind many vivid scenes of cherished childhood memories. Despite the lack of others to celebrate with, I was still satisfied by my Lunar New Year activities that were accompanied by nostalgia.
Even though it may seem time-consuming or pointless, finding any reason to celebrate something is a good way to de-stress. It is even better to share an activity with a roommate or family member (particularly if one is taking classes remotely from home) as a way to create enjoyable experiences. Take your pick of any holiday or celebration that holds a lot of meaning for you or your family and commemorate it in a creative, individual way. Whether it is to remember more light-hearted times or a simple search for variety, celebrating holidays such as Lunar New Year is definitely worth your time.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 老司机传媒. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 老司机传媒 or the Seventh-day Adventist church.