By Quincy San, Feb. 18, 2025
Lunar New Year, the gathering of communities from Jan. 29 to Feb.12 for lavish festivals and timeless traditions, marked the beginning of one of the biggest cultural holidays of the year. Millions of people all over the world celebrated Lunar New Year and took part in the traditions and activities that came with it.
Lunar New Year has been celebrated for thousands of years by generations upon generations of families, and its calendar is shaped by 12 different animals that cycle through each year. This year is the Year of the Snake, and the start of Lunar New Year ushers in prosperity and good luck to those who celebrate.
Professor Yingfei Chen of the Department of English and Modern Languages, who teaches elementary Chinese courses at Cal Poly Pomona, explained the history of Lunar New Year and why it is so important to those who celebrate.
“(Lunar New Year) is celebrated in China like Christmas is in America; the history is more like a myth,” Chen said. “It’s too old to see if it is true, but it has been passed down from generation to generation. It indicates the new coming year and people look forward to the blessings that come with it.”
One of the most famous and celebrated traditions of the holiday is the passing out of red envelopes.
“Red envelopes are important because of what’s inside, which is money,” Chen said. “Older people, usually seniors, are the people who hand out red envelopes. Who receives the red envelopes differs from region to region. Based on where I’m from, as long as you are not married, you are eligible to receive a red envelope. Once you get married, then you have to start giving red envelopes.”
Raymond Ngo, a kinesiology student, often travels back home to Pomona during the school year to celebrate Lunar New Year with his family.
“Some traditions that my family does is family karaoke or we do Mahjong because my family loves gambling, and winning money is the best thing in everyone’s life,” Ngo said. “A special memory I have during Lunar New Year is seeing all my cousins. Usually, I don’t get to see my cousins unless it’s a special occasion, and because of Lunar New Year, my family believes it is a time to bring everyone together and have fun playing family games, having a giant dinner and catching up.”
Food is also an integral part of Lunar New year. Chen said different foods have different meanings, each with the intent of a successful year.
“One of the must-have dishes is yú, which means fish. The famous saying ‘nián nián yǒu yú’ means every year you will have a surplus,” Chen said. “So, fish is a must.”
The word fish in Chinese, yú (鱼), sounds very similar to the word at the end of the saying yú (余), which is why fish is so symbolic as a Lunar New Year dish.
Other well-known dishes include nián gāo — a chewy, sweet rice cake made from rice flour and brown sugar that symbolizes growth and prosperity — and jiǎo zǐ, also known as dumplings. It is meant to symbolize wealth and good fortune, as its shape resembles that of gold coins used in ancient China.
Ngo said he enjoys returning to his parents’ house during Lunar New Year and smelling the dishes being prepared in the kitchen.
“My favorite Lunar New Year dish is roasted pig,” Ngo said. “I love it so much because it’s very iconic since I’ve had it since I was a kid, and each year my family will always get it, which makes it that much more of a significant impact in my life.”
The holiday is also known for its extravagant festivals and celebrations. Cities, especially those with large Asian populations, often host large-scale festivals that celebrate and honor Lunar New Year. There are booths set up serving food that is popular during the holiday, fun props and backgrounds that are Lunar New Year themed to take photos with, and stages set up for performers to do cultural dances and performances.
Halena Ho, a business student, has gone to festivals celebrating the holiday for the last few years.
“I attend one every year since the city I live in, Alhambra, hosts a big Lunar New Year festival with street booths ranging from food to performances,” Ho said. “They even have a traditional dragon dance. I love going there because everyone is joyous, and I get to celebrate my culture.”
Those who celebrate continue to serve as a reminder of family, togetherness and prosperity.
Feature image courtesy of Kathy San
