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Coming from a family of Chinese immigrants, Lunar New Year has always been one of the most prominent holidays my family celebrated. As a child, all I really knew about the holiday was that I would meet up with relatives, eat good food, and receive a bunch of red envelopes—a very shallow interpretation I must admit.

As I grew older, I learned there is so much more to the holiday that illustrates how sophisticated the Chinese culture is. It also heightened my appreciation for my heritage and sparked my desire to visit China to see firsthand how they celebrate.

And now I want to share my learnings about the different aspects to celebrating this holiday:

The History

There are many different stories about how this holiday came to be. The version I know centers around the monster "Nian", which translates to “year” in Chinese. Allegedly, Nian was a beast that came down to eat humans with the coming of each new year. To scare it away, citizens would use what it feared most: the color red and loud noises. This is why many Chinese communities would set off firecrackers for Lunar New Year and why you would often see the color red all over the place.

The Food

Many families would eat "auspicious" foods for the holidays that often has a phrase and play-on word tied to it. For instance, 年年有餘 (nian nian you yu) is a Chinese saying that basically means to have abundance and surplus each year. Fish is often served on Lunar New Year because the work 餘 sounds the same as the word 魚, which means fish. Interestingly enough, this is one of the dishes my family would have on the table, but not eat until a later day because finishing it is a sign of eating away your surplus too soon and is thus seen as unlucky.

Some other common foods include:

1. Dumplings because it is shaped like a coin bag
2. Noodles symbolizing longevity and thus should not be cut
3. Nian gao representing prosperity as a play-on word to "tall" so reaching new heights each year

The Celebrations

Lunar New Year is traditionally a 15-day festival where many Chinese people would get an entire week off work to celebrate. There are many different traditions people may partake in.

One of the most renowned is red envelopes. During this holiday, many adults would give red envelopes with money inside to children or as long as an individual is unmarried. It symbolizes a blessing for safety and peace.

When meeting others during this celebration, it is polite to greet others with various auspicious sayings. In fact, most people would greet with more than one phrase which is why it is important to know multiple which may include:

1. 新年快樂 (xin nian kuai le) - happy new year
2. 恭喜發財 (gong xi fa cai) - may you be blessed with prosperity
3. 身體健康 (shen ti jian kang) - may you be blessed with health
4. 年年有餘 (nian nian you yu) - may you be blessed with abundance each year

This is merely a fragment of the traditions associated with the holiday and how my family has celebration Lunar New Year. Traditions vary depending on what region of China or even Asia individuals are from. In 2024, Lunar New Year starts Saturday, February 10th. Explore the traditions and celebrations local to you this year and learn more about this international holiday.

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Imagine a festive Mexican tradition that honors and remembers loved ones who have passed away with colorful celebrations and intricate altars. That's the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos. This day is celebrated over multi-day period at the beginning of November. This Mexican tradition happily celebrates life while honoring those who have passed away. Mexican families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drinks, and celebration.

The History

The Day of the Dead is believed to be a bridge between the spiritual realm and the real world, intertwining them together. During this brief period that this bridge is open, it is believed that the souls of the dead awaken and return to the living world to celebrate life with their loved ones by feasting, drinking, dancing, and playing music with their loved ones by their gravesites or at ofrendas, altars set up in homes to welcome home the souls of the dead. Ofrendas can be decorated with candles and bright marigolds called cempasuchils. The living family members treat the deceased as honored guests in their celebrations of life.

Portrayal in Movies

Have you ever seen the Disney Pixar movie “Coco"? It wonderfully depicts how lovely the tradition of the Day of the Dead can be. Sometimes this tradition is depicted as merely a holiday, but it holds a special place in my heart. I proudly embrace my Mexican heritage. Even though I wasn't born in Mexico; my parents were.

What it Means to Me

As Mexican-Americans, we acknowledge that our experiences differ from those of Mexicans living in Mexico. Nevertheless, we make sincere efforts to connect with our heritage. One significant way I do this is by celebrating the Day of the Dead, a tradition that not everyone in my culture observes, making it unique to our Mexican-American identity. To me, the Day of the Dead serves as a reminder that our loved ones are deserving of celebration, whether they are still with us or not. The Day of the Dead isn't just a special occasion for me; it's a beautiful tradition and illustration of the lasting connections that tie us to our history, our ancestors, and our origins.

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I came to the United States from a small country in South Asia called Bangladesh. Coming from a different country, my story of getting a higher education can be classified as unlike many students in college today. 

After high school, I decided to take some time off to help with my family’s financial condition. When a year went by, I felt like it was time for me to continue my education. But sickness and lack of preparation prevented me from passing any of the required entrance exams. It was too expensive to take them a second time. Instead I got married in order to remove some of the burdens of my family.

I never gave up on my dream.  Even with a husband, I still wanted to continue my education. Being from a Muslim background, I had to face a lot of barriers of negative reactions from my family, friends, and even my husband in the beginning. My story continued when I came to the United States at the age of 18 with hopes of going to college. My husband thought it would be impossible and that I wouldn’t fit in, but I showed that I was willing to work. I began learning English by going to the library, doing volunteer work, and just talking to people. When my husband saw this, he started to believe in me and to support me.

Two and a half years after high school I finally got into the Community College of Allegheny County as an international student. Even though I should have been rejoicing, I felt there was a sigma about community college. I was told that no one wanted to go there and it was people’s last option, but for me it was everything. I ignored the negativity. I am the first person in my family to go to college and particularly the first girl in anything STEM related. Sometimes a lack of self-confidence and language barriers can get me down, but wanting to make my family proud is what helps get me through it all.

When I first began taking classes I had no friends and I always felt alone; I was desperate to make a connection with people. Also, as an international student my tuition was higher and so money was an issue. I worked hard to earn good grades even though I worried my education might end because of my low financial condition. I even thought about dropping out, but then I got an invitation from Phi Theta Kappa. I took the first steps and joined PTK so that I could talk to people and make friends. I became involved in PTK activities, which helped me make a connection with people and also helped relieve some of my financial hardships by helping me apply for scholarships. 

Even though it seemed like there was little chance for me to become a success in college, my positive attitude and patience have made it possible. I’ve learned that by cooperating and communicating with others more, I improve my ability to become both a compassionate leader and learner, and also to make connections with people. When I’ve thought of giving up, I learned to take a step back and look for a way move forward with more energy. I am proving everyone wrong who has doubted me.