Lunar New Year festivities kicked off at D-E on Monday, Jan. 27, with a delectable catered lunch for faculty and staff, hosted by the Chinese Parents Affinity Group. Tables were set up in Hajjar Auditorium with an abundant spread of dumplings, meatballs, and other traditional Chinese foods to enjoy as well as cash-filled red envelopes to be gifted to each person for good luck.
“It was fun to see our classmates experience this [important] tradition together with us”
On Tuesday, Jan. 28, the Lower School held its Lunar New Year event in the LS gym, where stations were set up for various activities, including Chinese origami crafts, calligraphy, beadwork, archery, Korean games (e.g., ddakji, which involves using a paper tile to flip your opponent’s paper tile), trying on hanbok (traditional Korean clothing), and more.
Following the day off from school in observance of the holiday on Wednesday, Jan. 29, Middle and Upper School students gathered in Schenck Auditorium on Thursday for Lunar New Year Assembly programs. The programs were presented by the East Asian Affinity group, Korean Culture Club, and Chinese Culture Club, and organized by Joel Lee ’17, US Assistant Director of DEIB, and Hailing Zhao, US World Language Teacher.
The programs included a presentation that explained the Lunar calendar and how there are 12 zodiac animals in Chinese astrology associated with specific years in the calendar. This year, 2025, ushers in the Year of the Snake—which signifies rebirth and intelligence. The holiday runs through Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Students also learned about chunyun, the “spring movement” during which Chinese people celebrate the New Year with their extended families. In addition to being recognized in China and Korea, Lunar New Year is commemorated in Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
“Practicing for the assembly was a lot of work, but worth it in the end.”
Sprinkled throughout the programs were delightful performances, such as a dragon dance inspired by martial arts, an all-division choral concert, an umbrella dance, and a pop-influenced vocal group consisting of Mandarin class seniors.
“This entire [Lunar New Year] event is great; the food is great, and the day off for us to observe Lunar New Year was also great,” says Logan Koplovitz ’25, who is enrolled in the Mandarin language class and participated in the assembly programs. “Practicing for the assembly was a lot of work, but worth it in the end.”
Lunar New Year activities concluded with a dumpling-making demonstration in the Wharton Lessin Dining Hall as well as craft stations for students, faculty, and staff to explore.
Katie Chen ’26 and Oriana Huang ’26 were at a station to translate fortunes written in Mandarin. “Lunar New Year is a huge part of our Chinese culture,” says Katie. Oriana added, “It was fun to see our classmates experience this [important] tradition together with us… a tradition that we have grown up with and have known all our lives.”
Happy Lunar New Year to the entire D-E community!
