AISG’s 2022 Chinese New Year: The Students’ Celebrations for Year of the Tiger

On Tuesday, February 1, we entered the year of the tiger. Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, is a very celebratory time, especially in China and other Asian countries. At AISG, we all had the new year off to spend with family and get a break from our hectic school lives. When it comes down to how different students celebrate the holiday, it is important to remember that AISG is an international school, so everyone tends to celebrate in a different way.

There are a lot of different backgrounds that are represented at AISG and this means that there are many different traditions that are in place for the New Year. However, there are some traditions that are common amongst all students.

Food is common for celebrating the new year and the most common foods are longevity noodles, dumplings, and rice cakes. Having good food with family during the holiday is a tradition that can be seen across any culture that celebrates the New Year.

“I made phō for Chinese New Year dinner and had Korean rice cakes,” said Lihn T., a junior at AISG. 

Another traditional practice is the giving and receiving of red packets, which have money inside. The amount of money inside will tend to be an auspicious number and is meant to bring good luck to the recipient.

For most students, the New Year holds major significance to them due to the celebration’s prominence in Asian countries. The holiday used to be the only time when day-to-day labor would stop in order for families to gather together and celebrate.

“It’s an opportunity to see loved ones,” commented Max N., another junior at AISG.

During the holiday, everyone tries to protect themselves and their loved ones from possible bad luck in the New Year. There are certain cautions everyone has from not washing hair to not saying certain words.

As a whole, Chinese New Year is a holiday to be with your family and enjoy the time to relax. It is a much-needed break for the student body of AISG.