St. Margaret’s Celebrates Lunar New Year With Festivities and Tartan Spirit

Students across all divisions marked the Lunar New Year with a week of reflection, cultural learning and celebration, highlighted by hands-on activities and traditional performances.

In the Early School, the youngest learners explored the holiday through arts and crafts projects, engaging with traditional Lunar New Year colors and symbols. And as an introduction to the celebration, the Early School students enjoyed a lion dance performance.

The Lower School’s observance unfolded throughout the week, beginning with reflection during a chapel video in which students shared how their families celebrate the holiday. They spoke about special meals, honoring ancestors and exchanging red envelopes, offering classmates a window into traditions observed around the world.

During chapel, Father Earl dedicated his homily to the significance of the Lunar New Year, sharing stories about its history and symbolism. He also displayed his collection of Lunar New Year-themed LEGO sets, assembled over the years and now showcased in the church office, sparking curiosity and excitement among students.

Lower School parent volunteers added to the celebration during recess, as the popular Scottie Snack Cart adopted a festive red-and-gold theme and featured Lunar New Year treats. Students sampled mandarins, dried apricots and a ginger honey drink.

Classroom activities extended the celebration, with many students exchanging red envelopes as symbols of good fortune and blessings for the year ahead. The Lower School office also surprised faculty and staff members with red envelopes and well wishes, reinforcing the spirit of generosity associated with the holiday. The week concluded with the Lower School students watching the lion dance performance during the House League assembly

Middle School students joined the festivities through hands-on projects, including crafting paper lanterns. In the Upper School, students and professional community members shared personal connections to the holiday through activities led by the Asian American and Pacific Islander affinity group and the Chinese Culture Club. The week included a Convocation presentation on the history and origins of the Lunar New Year and a musical performance by Alisa Jiang ’26 on the pipa, a traditional Chinese string instrument. During break, Upper School students received dumplings for good fortune from Mad Dumplings food truck. The Upper School also gathered in the Tartan Courtyard for music and were treated with a spirited lion dance performance, too, with each Upper School student receiving a colorful lion head.

Together, the week’s events showcased the rich cultural traditions represented at St. Margaret’s and created meaningful opportunities for students across divisions to share, learn and celebrate alongside one another.