By Molly Ma, Esther Zhang, Emma Zhang, contributing writers

Glowing lanterns sway like fireflies in the night, their crimson lights flickering against the smoky air. The sharp crackle of firecrackers erupts, scattering sparks across the crowded streets, where the scent of roasted chestnuts and home-cooked meals lingers in the cold winter breeze. For many Asian students at Winsor, this image captures the essence of Lunar New Year. However, this may not be the experience for everyone. 

When asked, many Winsor students–such as Liana Min ’26–express that their “local community celebrating Lunar New Year is actually AsIAm,” Winsor’s Asian Affinity group. Each year, Winsor’s AsIAm brings our community together in celebration, honoring both shared traditions and the diverse ways this holiday is experienced. 

How is Lunar New Year celebrated in your local community?

Remy Kim ‘25: My family follows many  Lunar New Year Traditions. On January 1st, we eat tteokguk, a Korean soup with rice cakes in it. A lot of times, we’ll be with our family in Korea, so we’ll do a family gathering. We usually do Sebae, where you bow and then you receive money, which is fun.

What does AsIAm do to celebrate the Lunar New Year?

AsIAm celebrates Lunar New Year through various activities in their meetings, such as ramen taste-testing and discussing current events in Asia. Since Lunar New Year is celebrated across multiple Asian cultures–including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and more–each community has its own unique traditions and meanings attached to the holiday. To showcase how this holiday is celebrated by different families, AsIAm hosts annual Lunar New Year assemblies.

Aleena Bacorro: In assemblies we start off by explaining what Lunar New Year is to the greater community and typically include a K-pop dance. We also often invite performers. This year, we are welcoming musicians who are playing traditional Chinese instruments. In the past, we’ve had a dragon dancer and other really cool acts.

In your opinion, what is special about AsIAm?

Min: Connecting with people that [are] a part of my identity through the AsIAm affinity group is really important to me. Back in Lower School, I wasn’t particularly excited about joining AsIAm, but over time, I gradually understood its value for people that are similar to me. 

Though not everyone celebrates Lunar New Year the same way, AsIAm takes the celebration to the next level by bringing it to the Winsor community. For many students who don’t celebrate the Spring festival, they experience the holiday through AsIAm’s meetings and an amazing Lunar New Year assembly. AsIAm’s celebrations truly illustrate what Lunar New Year really is: a holiday that allows people to come together and share happiness.

Lower Schoolers Dance at the Lunar New Year Assembly, photo from Esther Zhang