Niles North’s Chinese Club will be hosting a Chinese New Year celebration today after school in the East Commons.

The event will feature music, food, presentations, and other activities, and the entire event is completely free.

“Dumpling and spring rolls are traditional dishes often served during the Chinese New Year celebrations,” Chinese Club sponsor Anne Wadzinski says.

Our own Niles North celebration will include dumplings and spring rolls as well, along with lo mein noodles, fried rice, chow mein, and additional snacks like chips and cookies.

Students will also have the chance to make paper lanterns and other decorations. Chinese Club members will also help teach guests how to write Chinese characters to decorate their paper creations with wishes of good luck, health, and prosperity in the coming year.

“Chinese New Year, called Spring Festival, is the most important traditional holiday in China [as well as…] in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and some countries in southeast Asia,” Chinese teacher Yan Qian says.

Presentations will be offered by Chinese Club presidents Alex Mac and Joanna Tan to introduce guests to Chinese New Year traditions.

“It is important to include opportunities for all students at Niles North to celebrate the traditions that are important to them as well as the traditions that are important to their friends and other community members,” Wadzinski said.

For students who would normally celebrate this holiday, our own Niles North celebration offers them a venue to celebrate and share it with their fellow students.