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Ringing in the Lunar New Year at Masters

2/11/2026

As we officially welcome the Year of the Fire Horse next week, upper school students have already started to celebrate the Lunar New Year with events organized by International Club co-chairs Anna María Caponnetto Insa ’26, Kseniia Lukianenko ’26, Xing Lyu ’26 and Zara Murray ’27.

A surprise dragon dance kicked off the celebration during Morning Meeting. Dancers included: Jasmine Mao ’28, Mohan Zhang ’26, Andrew Cheng ’29, Matthew Liang ’29, Xing Lyu ’26, Elffie Gu ’29, Ryan Bing ’29, Aaron Ai ’28, Alex Cho ’27 and Crystal Niu ’28. Upper school students were given red envelopes, a favorite tradition of the holiday, and a few lucky students received free items from the Davis Cafe.

Wei Hu ’27 (China), Eileen Kang ’26 (South Korea), Man Dang ’26 (Vietnam) and Tipok Sue Leelasakuntham '27 (Thailand) shared stories about their diverse cultures and how they celebrate the new year with food, activities and customs.

“Many members of the Masters community, especially international students from East Asia, celebrate this holiday,” Hu explained. “It has the same importance as Christmas in many Western countries. By sharing this holiday, we showcase part of our traditions to this community while also inviting people to join the celebration and exchange cultures.”

Penny Peng, associate dean of global studies, is an advisor for International Club along with Abdoulaye Ngom and Pilar Méndez-Cruz. Peng said, “Boarding students are often more than ten thousand miles away from their home countries. By celebrating Lunar New Year, we help create a sense of home and belonging. Masters becomes their second home, where their culture is seen, respected and celebrated.”

Hu has fond memories of joyous gatherings with his family: “It’s when we connect with one another and wish for prosperity for the upcoming year. My favorite part is the reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve. People from my extended family all come to my grandparents’ house to help cook a huge meal that features many traditional dishes from my hometown, such as smoked fish, which symbolizes having a surplus every year.”

The International Club has invited the school community to take part in celebrations across campus.

On Friday, February 13, students will wear red for Red Spirit Day, a color that symbolizes good fortune in many Asian cultures. Head of School Laura Danforth will speak at Morning Meeting, and lunchtime activities in the dining hall will include Chinese calligraphy, lantern painting, a chopstick competition and riddles.

On Monday, February 16, boarding students will gather in Thompson Dorm at 10:00 a.m. to make dumplings and hot pot dishes, after watching a live broadcast of the China Media Group’s New Year’s Gala — one of the most-watched TV variety programs in the world.

The celebrations wrap up on Tuesday, February 17, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sharon Room with karaoke and games.

“Our School is a very diverse community, and Asian families are a valued and important part of it,” Peng said. “Lunar New Year is a joyful holiday filled with hope and new beginnings, and a great opportunity for students from different backgrounds to learn about another culture and gain new perspectives while creating meaningful experiences together.”