Tiffany Truong ‘27

REPORTER

This year, the school district had an in-service day on January 29th. However, many students were also celebrating a special holiday during this day off—Lunar New Year. Known for its red envelopes, fireworks, and Dragon dances, Lunar New Year is a vibrant celebration. Each year is associated with one of the Chinese Zodiac animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. This year, it’s the Year of the Snake.

Lunar New Year is celebrated not only in China but also in many other Asian countries, including Vietnam, Korea, Mongolia, Malaysia, Singapore, and others. In Vietnam, the holiday is called Tết, while in Korea, it’s known as Seollal. In addition to fireworks and dragon dances, there are many other traditions tied to the Lunar New Year. For example, many Asian Americans visit local Asian markets or Chinatown in Philadelphia to enjoy the lion dances.

At Unionville High School, the Lunar New Year is celebrated in various ways. “My family comes together for a meal with our relatives to celebrate the New Year. We decorate the house with a lot of red and gold because those are the colors of the New Year,” said junior Angelina Zhang, sharing some of the traditions her family observes for the occasion.

Throughout the surrounding community, there are numerous ways to celebrate Lunar New Year, while also learning about different cultures and traditions in the process.