By Elliot Kung ‘25, Feature Staff Writer

The annual Asian Diversity Club Potluck. (Image courtesy of Kieri Keys)

On February 10, 2024, many asians all over the world celebrated the Lunar New Year, whether it was with friends, family, or simply individually. Although the fun traditions such as receiving money in red envelopes bring a wide smile to those who celebrate, Asian children who grow up in America can often find it difficult to connect to their own culture. While Asian parents can attempt to connect their children to their heritage, nothing can ever mirror the experience of growing up in the country of one’s own origin. However, this does not mean that Asian children cannot connect with their culture, that they must seek and discover different ways to understand it. 

Gabe Zhao ‘25 copes with the lack of face-to-face relationships with his relatives in China by partaking in Lunar New Year traditions with his immediate family. “I usually make dumplings with my family,” he says, “but I also feel as if I’m disconnected to my Chinese culture since my extended family lives in China and I’ve lived in the United States my whole life.” When asked about how he connects with his relatives that live far away, he replied, “We typically call our extended family over WeChat, but the connection of visiting relatives in-person will always far surpass the experience of a simple call.” Being unable to connect with relatives that live in far-away countries is one struggle Asian families face, as traveling to China or South Korea can be costly and time-consuming. Phone calls and video chats must be used to supplement the lack of in-person communication. 

However, something that geographic distance will never hinder is the long-standing tradition of dumpling-making. Dumpling-making, a common tradition during the Lunar New Year, can represent the creation of wealth and prosperity. Dumplings, in Chinese culture, were represented to look like a nugget of gold, symbolizing wealth. Having created dumplings with both family and friends, molding a soggy piece of meat and vegetables with my hands and watching it become a delicious nugget of culture is a feeling like no other. The jokes made when wrapping dumplings with my friends and family will always be in my memories when thinking about the Lunar New Year. 

Eric Wong ‘25 celebrates the Lunar New Year with his loved ones by enjoying various cultural dishes in addition to dumplings. “I celebrate the Lunar New Year with family and friends. The celebrations always have a lot of food like chicken, fish, noodles, rice cakes, and many others,” Eric says. “Each food is thought to symbolize a different aspect of life such as longevity, good health, meaningful relationships, luck and many others.” 

Noodles in many Asian cultures are created to be extremely long, as it was believed that long noodles symbolized a long life. In the instance of both noodles and dumplings, Asian culture often links food to the wellbeing of life. 

When I asked Eric to summarize what the Lunar New Year meant to him, he shared, “It is a celebration of connection and appreciation for life.” 

For myself, as an American-born Chinese, I have experienced a different type of Lunar New Year than generations before me. In times of social media, I can see how other people celebrate with their family, and this lens can influence the way I choose to celebrate. As I get older, my appreciation for the Lunar New Year has only increased and I try my best to connect with the culture as I learn the customs my grandparents and parents learned from their parents. Whether  eating dumplings, receiving red envelopes, or just sitting and having a meal with family and friends, celebrating the Lunar New Year brings me closer to the culture I am part of.