Preparing for prosperity

How Northview celebrates Lunar New Year 2026

Photo by Kelsie Gibson

Milo Park, Features Editor, Olivia Ma, Staff Writer, & Claire Kim, Staff Writer

When red and gold hues spread across the halls, Northview High School's dedication to cultural celebration becomes unmistakable. These decorations not only brighten the halls but also highlight the diverse makeup of Northview's community. As Feb. 17 approaches, students prepare to welcome the Lunar New Year in 2026.

Lunar New Year is traditionally considered to be the most important annual celebration in China and many Asian communities worldwide. It marks the start of the 15-day Spring Festival and, in 2026, the start of the Year of the Horse. It is a holiday that brings communities together to honor cultural traditions, reconnect with loved ones, and celebrate new beginnings.

In the weeks leading up to Lunar New Year, many families begin preparations to invite luck and prosperity into the coming year. They clean their homes from top to bottom to sweep away misfortune from the previous year. Decorations in red and gold, which are associated with good fortune and happiness, fill homes. Families often set out traditional foods or hang paper phrases that honor their heritage. These customs create a sense of hope and anticipation for the new year.

At Northview, students are also adopting their own ways to welcome a fresh start. However, celebrating often starts with fully realizing the history behind these holidays. While celebrations can bring many festivities to communities, Eshan Notta, Outreach Coordinator of the Chinese Honors Society, emphasizes the importance of respect for the culture.

“I think it's very important that you just understand where these traditions come from,” Notta said. "The line between appreciation and appropriation can be easily defined."

Notta explains that with thoughtful considerations of tradition and origin, Lunar New Year celebrations can become something that everyone can take part in as an appreciation of the enduring, rich customs that come from one of the oldest civilizations in history. With true appreciation of this culture, Notta shares that one can draw connections to their own culture and heritage, especially in such a diverse community.

“I'm South Asian, so we don't celebrate Lunar New Year, but we do have a new year that's kind of similar. We call it the Spring Festival or Nowruz. And it's very similar in the traditions,” Notta said.

Although traditions may vary across different cultures, the overall purpose is similar. Martin Neuhaus, principal of Northview High School, explains the effect these traditions have on our communities, both inside and outside of school. He describes the Lunar New Year as a beacon, connecting students across communities and providing a space for them to take part in diverse celebrations. 

“The different diversity, the different culture, the different celebration, the positive energy...that's what makes any community great," Neuhaus said. 

For Neuhaus, the Lunar New Year displays a clear message that symbolizes new chapters beyond cultural celebrations and festivities. He suggests that while it is fun, it is also an opportunity for us to work on ourselves, our goals, and our aspirations for the next year.

“A new year [and these] beginnings are always opportunities for us to grow and improve," Neuhaus said.

Beyond family traditions, teachers at Northview also play a role in how the school approaches Lunar New Year. Li Chen, the sponsor of the Chinese Honors Society, emphasizes that the holiday is most meaningful when the entire community engages in the celebration. This year, the club is taking an active role in sharing those traditions with both the school and the local community.

"The National Chinese Honors society is doing the Dragon Dance on New Year's Day and in the pep rally," Chen said. "We are also going to communities nearby, like the [Ivy Center] daycare and the [Alto] senior living [center], to try to introduce Lunar New Year and also [to] bring some joy to them."

Across campus, the holiday takes shape through student participation. The celebration is a chance for everyone to learn about the traditions behind the festivities and understand their significance. Student-made decoration displays begin to appear across the school, showing traditional symbols like red envelopes, lanterns, and zodiac animals. These efforts create an environment where students can experience an event where culture and community come together.

As the Year of the Horse approaches, regardless of what traditions or holidays you celebrate, the start of a year offers the shared opportunity for reflection and growth. At Northview, Lunar New Year is a real, lived-in experience rather than just a tradition to learn about, allowing students to engage with and appreciate traditions beyond their own, while encompassing common sentiments of personal growth and shared prosperity.