Asian Culture Club’s Lunar New Year Festival

Blake’s Asian Culture Club’s Lunar New Year celebration with Paint Branch and Springbrook will be rescheduled to a later date. Originally planned for Tuesday, January 21, the festival was postponed due to inclement weather.

The Asian Culture Club creates a community for students to learn about and appreciate Asia’s various traditions, religions, food, people, and beliefs. Members socialize with each other, participate in cultural activities, and organize events in their meetings. Blake received support and ideas from Paint Branch High School’s Asian Culture Club and Sprinbrookβ€˜s Asian Student Union. Hosting this event will bring the Northeast Consortium community together and highlight Asian culture.

Ruby Nguyen, an eleventh grader at Blake and Vice President of the Asian Culture Club, hopes everyone will consider visiting the Lunar New Year festival. β€œThe event will feature multiple performances such as a lion dance, games, songs, and more. There will be decorations, other small activities, food, and celebrations,” she said. β€œI noticed it’s rare for any events to be held like this and Asian representation is not exactly strong. Bringing this festival in to celebrate the Lunar New Year is one of my ways to showcase our community and culture.”

Miley Nguyen, another junior at Blake and secretary of the Asian Culture Club, helps out with tasks and supplies and speaks at meetings. β€œAsian Culture Club is a great way to make friends and gain SSL hours and prizes. Anyone can join and anyone is welcome!” she said. When asked what the Lunar New Year means to her, she described it as β€œa time when family and friends can come together and eat amazing food while celebrating our culture. It gives me time to look back on the year.”

Mrs. Tran, Blake’s English Language Development teacher and a strong supporter of the Asian Culture Club, shared the traditions and meaning behind the Lunar New Year. β€œAll of Asia stops for this time and they just celebrate,” she noted. β€œI remember the red envelopes being the really exciting thing to look forward to. You get it when you greet somebody with a New Year’s blessing and in order to get the envelope you need to wish them well, you need to wish them prosperity, good health, and fortune.” Families gather and have large meals that take almost a full day to prepare. She emphasized that she loves to see parent engagement in these events. Mrs. Tran also highlighted the support from Ruby and a senior, Vy Bao. Ruby helps plan events, provides ideas for upcoming meetings, and manages other tasks. She has connections to students from Paint Branch and Springbrook and was able to organize a collaboration. Vy got a Vietnamese organization (VAS) to help with decorations and food. The whole group worked together to make this happen and Mrs. Tran hopes to see this β€œbecome a tradition at Blake.”

2025 is the year of the Wood Snake and represents a year of hopes, dreams, expectations, good fortune, and prosperity. Ruby, Miley, and Mrs. Tran mentioned red envelopes and lucky money given to them by parents and other family members; however not all regions of Asia celebrate the same way. Ruby and her family do not clean their house during the Lunar New Year β€œbecause it can sweep away the good luck.” For Mrs. Tran, it’s the opposite – her family ensures the house is clean to bring only good fortune and β€œget rid of anything that’s bad.” Miley also said that she wears a traditional dress, and visits the temple to wish for good fortune in the new year through prayers and donations. She also watches a dragon dance performance featured at the temple. They also touched on a common Buddhist practice, which includes ancestral worship and inviting ancestors to celebrate. 

This festival is a great way to meet new people, connect with families and communities, and share memories. By celebrating the Lunar New Year in the NEC and school community, the Asian Culture Club’s festival holds true to the holiday’s values and spreads the celebration for all to enjoy.