By Shivali Shah, Digital Editor
River Hill’s Lunar New Year celebration on January 30th was one filled with cultural richness and excitement. Coupling the many talents of River Hill students with the vibrant traditions of the Lunar New Year, Project Lotus and the Chinese Honor Society made the event a memorable and immersive experience.
Lunar New Year, or Lunisolar New Year, celebrates the start of a new year on the lunar calendar. Its date is set by the new moon closest to the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. This holiday is one of the most significant in Chinese culture, marked by traditional celebrations such as fireworks, cultural dances, family dinners and the iconic gifting of red envelopes filled with money.
River Hill’s Lunar New Year event highlighted many aspects of this rich culture. Stations set up for attendees included Chinese Calligraphy, Tea Corner, Chinese Yoyo, Majiang and Fan Decoration, along with performances ranging from bamboo flute melodies and a guzheng duet to a kung fu demonstration. Planning the event was no small feat. Senior Rhea Nair, President of Project Lotus, explained that while they “didn’t run into too many problems,” bringing everything together was the most challenging part. “We have two clubs working together, and at the event, we have performances, stations and lots of food. Planning all of that individually was easy, but finding a layout that fit the event was difficult.”
To manage the event effectively, Nair and the other officers “put everything in a list and time-blocked the different stations so that [their] main focuses like food and performances were showcased and given enough time.” Reflecting on last year’s event, Nair said, “We wanted to improve on previous events. Last year, we had 4 or 5 stations, so this year we added more—close to 7 or 8. And last year, we ran out of food, so we promised to order more and distribute it more evenly.”
The results of their hard work were evident, with attendees raving about their time at the event. Junior Julia Goldenberg shared her excitement, saying, “I feel like it is really great to see my peers share things about their own identity and culture. Everyone here is going through such a great effort to showcase something special to them and I think it’s really cool to learn more about it!” Similarly, Junior Ananya Porwal, a Project Lotus Officer, expressed her enjoyment of the performances, noting, “I always love seeing the performances because they come from different ages and types of acts. I really enjoy seeing the Chinese culture and how they celebrate one of their bigger holidays.”
One of the main focuses of the event was “to promote inclusion and awareness, but also a sense of belonging,” according to Nair. She explained that at many other schools, “there are absolutely no cultural events,” and that growing up, she often felt that the few holidays celebrated at school catered to a specific demographic. “A lot of other officers felt this way as well. So our main mission is to take a festival that many people in this school celebrate and have an event for it, so we can all come together to celebrate, and so that people that are new to it can learn more, while the people who celebrate it can feel included.”
Much of the event’s success was rooted in its ability to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the cultural diversity at River Hill. Mrs. Casper, the sponsor of Project Lotus, reflected on the importance of such events, saying, “Speaking as someone who doesn’t come from a culture that typically celebrates Lunar New Year, I think it’s incredibly educational and really special to be able to participate in and share people’s celebrations and holidays, no matter what they are. I think it’s something that is really important, particularly at this school since we have a majority Asian population, as you learn something new and build community.”
In the end, Project Lotus and the Chinese Honor Society succeeded in their goal of creating an inclusive event, one that extended beyond just River Hill High School’s students to include the entire community. “I really like seeing all of the younger kids that come,” Goldenberg explains, “I think it’s really cool that they are being exposed to different cultures they may not already know about at their young age.”
River Hill’s Lunar New Year celebration was a shining example of how cultural traditions can bring people together, creating both a sense of belonging and an opportunity for learning. Thanks to the dedication of Project Lotus and the Chinese Honor Society, the event was a resounding success! As attendees left with fond memories and a new understanding of Chinese culture, it was clear that such events not only celebrate the holidays but also the diverse community at River Hill.