Chinese New Year is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. It is also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture and other Asian cultures that follow the lunar calendar. The date of Chinese New Year varies each year, but it usually falls between January 21 and February 20. This year it fell on Feb. 10. 

The year 2024 is the year of the dragon, an auspicious symbol of power, wisdom and good fortune. Chinese New Year is a time for family reunion, feasting, honoring ancestors, exchanging red envelopes, and decorating with red lanterns and couplets. 

Students at Romero Elementary School got a chance to learn about this important aspect of Asian culture thanks to a partnership with Panda Express. 

Jessica Moua, the school counselor, put together a presentation to teach students about the origin of the Lunar New Year, how some cultures celebrate it, and the traditions some families have. Panda Express provided the curriculum, tools, and books for students to use in the lesson.