By Yvette Lin, Staff Writer
The arrival of 2021 brings the desire to return to daily practices and regain lost time with family. With COVID-19 cases on the rise, officials continue to urge families to stay home for the upcoming Lunar New Year. Two students from TCHS of different ethnic backgrounds share their Lunar New Year traditions and how they plan to adapt to the restrictions.
Senior Paige Chang
On a typical Lunar New Year, the aroma of baked sweets and savory main courses would fill the room as Chang dons her traditional cheongsam dress and joins her family in prayer. This year, Chang will not celebrate with her extended family. She will miss seeing their faces but has memories of past traditions to draw comfort from.
Known as the Spring Festival in China and Hong Kong, Feb. 12 is the first day of the lunar calendar year and celebrations can last up to 15 days. On the day before Lunar New Year, families like Chang’s organize large reunion dinners with traditional Cantonese side dishes including fish, sweet rice balls and kumquats. People usually commemorate their ancestors on the final day and promote a year of peace at the Lantern Festival. This year, Chang decided to keep celebrations within the immediate family out of precaution.
“Lunar New Year is my favorite holiday because it ties me closer to my family and our traditions that I’m still learning about,” Chang said. “I have a big family, but it’s sad that I won’t be able to see them this year because of the pandemic.”
Junior Ethan Lee
Lively chatter and the scent of food will surround Lee as he eagerly recites sentiments of good luck in exchange for a red envelope. Tết Nguyên Đán is Vietnam’s version of Lunar New Year which celebrates nature, family and revival. It varies from Chinese New Year due to the replacement of the ox, rabbit and sheep in the Chinese calendar with the buffalo, cat and goat.
Lee takes part in day-long celebrations for both sides of the family. Traditions range from visiting the graves of family from his father’s side in Hawaii to eating nem nướng, bún bò huế and fried noodles. However, due to the pandemic Lee’s family resorts to celebrations within the household.
“I never really cherished the time I spent with my family who I rarely saw since I used to be a bit annoyed about going out as a kid,” Lee said. “Now, I just have a longing to go back to pre-pandemic times and eat my uncle’s hot pot.”