As time slithered into the Year of the Snake, Minnechaug’s Asian Culture Club took it upon themselves to add a splash of culture to our school. For two days at the end of February, the Asian Culture Club set up a booth outside the cafeteria where students could purchase a red envelope for $1 to “honor the traditions of the Lunar New Year.”

But what makes the red envelope so widely celebrated in the Lunar New Year? The tradition of handing out red envelopes to friends, family, and even coworkers has been very popular in China since as early as the Han Dynasty (202 BC to 220 AD). The envelopes are usually colored with gold and red, with most people placing some money inside. The red color of the envelopes is also significant, typically representing good luck and happiness.

Additionally, 2025 marks the Year of the Snake, symbolizing transformation, growth, and wisdom. The first Year of the Snake occurred in 1941, and has been recurring every 12 years since, with 2013 being the last Year of the Snake before this year’s celebration. The origin of the Chinese Zodiac began with a myth about the Jade Emperor holding a great race for every animal, which involved crossing a large river. Based on the number that each animal passed the finish line, they would correspond to that number in the zodiac cycle, and thus, the 12 zodiac years each had an animal to be represented by.

Furthermore, the Asian Culture Club also decorated outside the IRC with a large banner featuring the snake as well as various ways to say “Happy New Year” in other Asian languages. Overall, the Asian Culture Club’s commitment to bringing the Lunar New Year to Minnechaug will be a memorable one, and hopefully, will inspire peers to learn more about Asian culture and their celebrations.