Lunar New Year Celebration Plans: A Cultural Immersion

AZN has big plans for Lunar New Year, promoting a plethora of traditional Asian practices for the greater Middlesex community

As the Lunar New Year draws near, the streets of China come alive with red lanterns emitting an ardent glow and bustle from excited pedestrians. Children’s faces light up with joy upon receiving red packets from elders. Over the round table brimming with steaming delicacies, families embrace each other, extending tearful greetings after prolonged separations. A cessation to the painful distance that separates relatives, this holiday allows loved ones to reunite and forge everlasting memories. Because of the holiday’s importance in Asia, especially China, what activities and events can students on campus come February?

Last year, AZN transformed Stufac with red lanterns and paper decorations, hosting activities ranging from dumpling wrapping to boba making to calligraphy. The previous leaders promoted the tradition of giving and receiving red packets by distributing red envelopes containing dollar bills or homework passes, much to the students’ delight. The event culminated in a grand dinner featuring delectable Chinese cuisine. Given the success of last year, AZN will no doubt conjure up yet another spectacular cultural festival this year. 

In interviewing AZN head Ema Edwards and faculty advisor Starry Zhu, I learned that this year AZN intends to build off of their traditional celebration by providing an immersive cultural experience for the entire Middlesex community. A week before the first day of the Lunar New Year, AZN will hold an event in the Terry room with different activity stations, including calligraphy, couplet making, paper flower cutting, origami, Mahjong, and other traditional Chinese board games. Since the whole school is welcome to join, this is a great opportunity for Asians to appreciate their identity and for non-Asian students to learn about a new culture. Food, a unifying element in many Asian cultures, will remain an integral component of this celebration, as emphasized by Starry when she remarks that “food brings people together.” There will be Asian food for lunch, provided by our wonderful FLIK Team, and a special dinner banquet exclusive to members of AZN. Furthermore, the Lunar New Year Gala on February 9th will showcase the beauty of different cultures through the diverse talents of Middlesex’s Asian students. 

According to Starry Zhu, when she first came to Middlesex a year ago, she was shocked to hear that there were only 15-20 Chinese students in the whole school. The small Chinese student body can, at times, leave Chinese students feeling disoriented as members of a minority. Reflecting on my personal experience, I have celebrated the Lunar New Year with my family for the past fourteen years, and the idea of appreciating this cultural event alone in a foreign country is undeniably disconcerting. Celebrating traditional holidays has a profound significance for international students, as it offers a source of solace and a means of consolidating cultural roots. In our conversation, Starry beautifully articulated this sentiment: “When you’re here in boarding school, your community is your family. To celebrate traditions together is what families do, and to be with a group of people so eager to share this experience with you is extremely powerful.”

In Middlesex’s small yet diverse student body, events that promote the celebration of cultures are crucial to fostering an inclusive community. It is only when we experience other cultures that we can truly appreciate and embrace diversity. 

Jessica Wu