International Alliance Lunar Night Spotlight

Written by: Sraddha Vitta ('29) & Laura Vokits ('29)

On February 13, Lawrence High School’s International Alliance club hosted their annual Lunar New Year celebration to observe the year of the horse and bring good luck to the high school. Along with bringing Lunar New Year to LHS, International Alliance also brought activities, food, and a performance to celebrate this special occasion and make Lunar Night the most memorable it could be.

International Alliance Advisor Ms. Quddus and her club members!

Food plays a central role during Lunar New Year celebrations, with many traditional dishes carrying symbolic meanings that represent wishes for prosperity, health and family unity for the year ahead. During Lunar New Year, food is chosen not only by taste, but for what they represent. Dumplings symbolize wealth as their shape resembles Chinese silver ingots. Fish represent abundance and surplus, while spring rolls signify prosperity, and rice cakes symbolize growth and progress in the coming year.

In preparation for Lunar New Year, International Alliance members spent time calling local restaurants to gather dishes for the event. IA’s Lunar New Year kitchen featured a wide variety of dishes from multiple restaurants including Shuu Cafe, Mesu, Yo Restaurant, Golden Empire and Modern Fusion. The spread included dumplings, buldak, spring rolls, noodles, fried rice, crab rangoon, bubble tea in flavors of Matcha and Thai tea, and baked goods in multiple flavors. Together, the meal created a festive atmosphere that allowed members to celebrate culture, enjoy meaningful food, and share the spirit of the Lunar New Year! 

During Lunar New Year, activities and games also play a crucial part. Many families hold activities together as an act of family bonding and a way to create lasting memories that will lead into the new year. Traditional games such as Mahjong and Chinese chess are usually played by families to celebrate the new year along with other activities such as making lanterns, giving away red envelopes, and watching performances like the Dragon Dance.

To create a memorable occasion at LHS, International Alliance prepared lanterns during their club meetings and a Lunar Night poster to decorate the cafeteria for the evening. During the Lunar New Year celebration, tables were set up for guests that were willing to try activities that embodied and shared some of Chinese culture. These stations had a wide variety of activities, including Mahjong, origami, calligraphy, and a wish station to share hopes and dreams for the year. Along with stations, IA also included a performance by senior Kieran Hanna with the Chinese yoyo and games guests could participate in to make an unforgettable night filled with fun and new experiences.

International Alliance is dedicated to holding Lunar Night each year to not only open up the celebration of the Lunar New Year to the public, but to also open people’s minds to other cultures and bring more diversity to Lawrence Township. International Alliance’s goal is to always spread acknowledgement and make a difference in the community by fostering cultural awareness. IA officer and senior Parthiv Pandya states that, “We’re not only opening people up to International Alliance, but to different cultures too, and that's the whole goal of it.” International Alliance wishes everyone a happy Year of the Horse and an amazing new year!