Striking red envelopes filled with blessings, traditional foods such as dumplings symbolizing wealth, and the welcoming of Spring are all key aspects of marking a fresh start with the Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year is a holiday widely celebrated in China, South Korea, Vietnam, and many other countries.
A large portion of MHS students celebrate the holiday, and for the first time this year, the Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD) has granted a day off for the holiday, according to the MUSD calendar.
“Lunar New Year is significant because you can wash off all the bad omens and have a fresh start,” senior Jessica Kwan said.
Customs Kwan follows include cutting her hair before the new year and avoiding taking a shower or washing clothes the night before to retain good luck, she said.
“We also put something red under our pillow so we can scare away any monsters or spirits creating bad luck,” Kwan said.
Visiting a Buddhist temple during the new year is one way Kwan feels a sense of belonging in the large mix of cultures found in the Bay Area, she said.
“When I go to the temple, I feel more connected to my culture since I get to celebrate my ancestry,” Kwan said. “I feel tied to my ancestors since we pray for them and for new beginnings and they are still there, helping you get through it all.”
The meaning of Lunar New Year has evolved for Kwan over the years, she said.
“As a child, I definitely participated in more activities such as the Lion Dance, but I didn’t really understand the significance behind it,” Kwan said. “But now that I’ve been through school and am older, I understand the importance of celebrating to stay close to my heritage and adhering to superstitions since it’s a family tradition.”
Senior Kim Vu is from Vietnam and follows other traditions during the Lunar New Year, she said.
“Every year, we visit San Jose Vietnamtown to give our newborn nieces and nephews their New Year’s greetings,” Vu said. “Now that I’m 18, I have to be the one giving them money.”
Vu feels like more of an adult now that her own money is put towards New Year’s blessings and she is treated like a woman by her family, she said. Vu feels grateful to be able to see her family and feels a sense of belonging in her Vietnamese community, she added.
“I’m really lucky that I grew up in the Bay Area, where we have a whole Vietnamtown, and I’m able to see my family since they immigrated here after the Vietnam War,” Vu said.
Growing older has allowed Vu to see the New Year as more than just receiving money from her elders, she said.
“When I was little I only knew how to say ‘please wish me’ (and) ‘please give me’ in Vietnamese, but now that I’m older, I get to go to the senior homes and community centers and converse more,” Vu said. “I can talk to the elders and listen to their stories about immigrating and facing discrimination. There is greater meaning behind the new year tradition that has lived through so many generations.”
Senior Michelle Ng is from Korea and China, and often feels pressured to choose between her two identities, Ng said.
“Lunar New Year allows me to celebrate both cultures proudly, a rare time in the year where self-acceptance of my blended background is present,” Ng said.
Ng appreciates how Lunar New Year is celebrated on campus through cultural shows during the second semester including the Korean American Student Association show, she said.
“There are many cultural clubs held on campus that demonstrate that MHS students have strong ties to their culture and want to show it off proudly,” Ng said.
Vu likes how the previously named Chinese show was renamed to the Lunar Show to encompass most of Southeast Asia rather than only China, she said.
“Now, the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) and the Korean Dance Team, along with other clubs, perform as well, showing how each culture collectively celebrates (Lunar New Year),” Vu said.
Vu would enjoy seeing her friends at school and exchanging gifts and would prefer that more than having the day off for Lunar New Year, she said.
“Coincidentally, this Lunar New Year is on a Friday, which is the VSA meeting day, so it would have been nice to invite our members and celebrate together,” Vu said.
Others are excited to spend more time with their families on the day off, including Kwan, she said.
“The day off shows how our district cares about our culture, and I wish they did it for many other cultures as well,” Kwan said.