Hanging couplets, lanterns, and dragons in the rotunda are just part of what the school’s Chinese Culture Club is planning to help celebrate the Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year that begins Tuesday.

“I thought that there needed to be more appreciation for Chinese culture,” club president Dora Sow said. “Also for us to as a student body to appreciate different cultures of our school.”

The club aims to expand people’s minds about the cultures around them.

“I think it’s really cool because there is a pretty big Asian population,” chemistry teacher Joann Jang said. “But also something I have noticed is that there are people that are aren’t as aware of other cultures, so for them to see that there is a holiday being celebrated at this time is neat.”

The holiday is usually observed over a span of 23 days, from the first day of the new year to the last day of the first lunar month.

“It’s just really nice to have some Chinese spirit and representation in the halls,” junior Ayda Sow said. “We always have huge family reunions and since the weather is cold, we all eat hot pot together. Besides the food, I love the family reunions. It is a very happy time because everyone is coming back, it’s really nice.”

One way the holiday is distinguished is the distribution of red envelopes, which contain money, between friends and family. The envelopes are given usually from the older generation to the younger generation.

“I think it [red envelopes] is a good way to celebrate with your family,” Jang said. “I think it is fun and it’s also something that people in the U.S. don’t typically celebrate, so there is something unique that you can celebrate from your culture.”