This past Friday, Chinese+ and the Korean American Student Association (KASA) hosted Lunar New Year celebrations at Castilleja. Students participated in festivities such as zodiac button making, Chinese calligraphy, origami dragon folding and—most popularly—games from the famous Korean TV show Squid Game. While students took part in the many activities, members of the affinity groups reflected on the meals they eat and traditions they enjoy with family to celebrate the holiday.
Katy Zhen ’26: “My favorite Lunar New Year tradition is just to get with my family, and when I was younger we would set off fireworks when I was in China.”
Winnie Hui ’25: “[My] favorite tradition is definitely eating together and gathering together as a great big family. That’s always the best part. Unfortunately, my family is all in Shanghai right now, so I can’t gather with them, but we kind of do it across the sea [by] calling and FaceTiming.”
Lexie Stinson ’24: “Definitely hanging out with family, coming all together. Usually we make a feast with all these dishes that symbolize all these different things, like you want to eat a lot of fish to symbolize richness, prosperity, and life. We usually make dumplings with my grandparents, but this year we couldn’t, so we’re going to go out to lunch with them when they come and visit. It’s super fun. I love all the traditions too, like wearing red. I think everything is so beautiful when you decorate it for Lunar New Year.”
Norah Yang ’25: “Personally, I really love ‘nián yèfàn’, which is the family meal we eat on Lunar New Year’s Eve. It’s normally with our whole family and friends, so anyone who doesn’t have a family to go to you [would] invite over to your house, too. It’s this huge meal, almost like a potluck.”
Samantha Kim ’24: “For my family, it is tradition to all have dinner together. So tonight we’re going to be eating ‘tteokguk.’ It’s this rice cake soup that’s a traditional food. Food is a big part of Lunar New Year for Koreans, especially a lot of soups and side dishes that we also eat, but the main point of it is gathering as a family.”
“I also like wearing ‘hanbok,’ which is what I do every year on Lunar New Year. If I am in Korea, I actually go to my grandparents’ house wearing ‘hanbok,’ and if my cousins are there they are all wearing ‘hanbok.’ I feel very in touch with my culture and heritage [when wearing it].”
