Celebrating the Year of the Snake

From themed Chapel services to dumpling making and red envelopes to lion dancing, the EA community has immersed itself in learning about and celebrating the cultural traditions of the Lunar New Year, one of the most important festivals of the year among many Asian countries.

The 15-day celebration follows the lunar calendar and includes parades, dancing, feasting with family, exchanging gifts, and lighting exquisite lanterns as celebrants let go of the past year and look toward the New Year with joy and anticipation. The 2025 Lunar New Yearthe Year of the Snakebegan on Wednesday, Jan. 29, and lasts until the Lantern Festival on Wednesday, Feb. 12.


With festive decor in all buildings and many dressed in red clothing, students in all divisions kicked off the holiday in a multitude of ways.

  • Middle School students enjoyed a Lunar New Year Chapel service where 8th grade Mandarin students taught their fellow classmates about the history of the Lunar New Year with a skit titled The Story of Nian, Mandarin Teacher Sophie Fu share some personal experiences growing up celebrating Lunar New Year in China, and 7th grade Mandarin students led a fun Q&A session complete with red envelope prizes for correct answers.
     
  • Thanks to the generosity of numerous parents, Lower School students got an in-depth look at some of the many traditions of the Lunar New Year in their classrooms through books, videos, crafts, songs, games, and treats aplenty.
     
  • Kindergarten students learned and sang Zhao Pengyou, a Chinese folk song that translates to 'Looking for friend'.
     
  • During Lower School Chapel on Friday, Jan. 24, a few Chapel Council members and five vibrantly dressed Lower Schoolers taught their fellow students about the Lunar New Year and shared some of their favorite traditions of the holiday.
     
  • Led by the Asian American Student Union (AASU), Upper School students enjoyed learning the art of dumpling makingand tasting the delicious final productsin Tierney Dining Hall.
     
  • Ms. Fu's Mandarin classroom became a whirlwind of Lunar New Year activities on Jan. 29, including a New Year photo booth, dumpling making, Boba tea making, a chopsticks race and calligraphy corner, watching the Lunar New Year Gala, and even Skyping with Ms. Fu's family in China.
     
  • SAGE Dining put together a true Lunar New Year feast complete with kung po chicken, lo mein, egg rolls, potstickers, rice, garlic-ginger bok choy, broccoli, Chinese New Year toasted coconut cake, and fortune cookies. 

To celebrate, check out this list of Lunar New Year opportunities compiled by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. May your New Year be filled with good health and prosperity!