Dartmouth Celebrates Lunar Recent Year with Campus-Wide Festivities

Dartmouth College came alive with vibrant celebrations marking the Lunar New Year, as well known as the Spring Festival, from February 14 through February 19, 2026. Student organizations, departments, and community groups hosted a diverse array of events, welcoming the Year of the Horse with traditional customs and cultural experiences.

Dragon Dances and Cultural Performances

A highlight of the celebrations was a dragon dance and martial arts demonstration held at the Hopkins Center for the Arts on February 14, attracting approximately 260 attendees. The event, organized in partnership with the Asian Cultural Center of Vermont, also featured Tai Chi and dance performances. Aaron Rivkin, impact and community alliance manager at the Hopkins Center, noted the excitement surrounding the festivities. This marked the first time the Top of the Hop hosted a family-centered Lunar New Year celebration, bringing together students and residents of the Upper Valley.

Dumpling Making, Karaoke, and Language Practice

The Chinese Language House served as a central hub for cultural immersion, hosting dumpling making and karaoke sessions. On February 17, approximately 100 students attended the annual Spring Festival celebration at the house, sponsored by the Asian societies, cultures and languages department. According to Chinese language lecturer Lei Yan, the event has been a tradition at the Chinese Language House for over 40 years. Students had the opportunity to practice Mandarin while engaging in traditional activities like calligraphy, knot tying, and paper cutting. Carter Anderson ’26, an activity coordinator, emphasized the event’s value for language learners, while Mutong Qi ’28 highlighted its significance as one of the largest events of the year for the community.

Campus-Wide Participation and Artistic Expression

Dartmouth Dining contributed to the festivities with a Lunar New Year dinner at the Class of 1953 Commons on February 16, building on the success of its inaugural celebration last year. The Chinese Culture Society also held a Lunar New Year event in the Class of 1982 Engineering and Computer Science Center on February 15. The Hood Museum of Art hosted art-making activities on February 14, including red envelope decorating and a book nook, attracting around 230 attendees. Museum educator Catherine Coggins noted that staff members shared items used in their own Lunar New Year celebrations, showcasing the diversity of traditions.

A Celebration of Multiple Traditions

The Pan Asian Community hosted a joint celebration of Ramadan and Lunar New Year on February 19, recognizing the convergence of the two holidays. Anh-Ton Nguyen ’26, a Pan-Asian student coordinator, explained that the Lunar New Year and the start of Ramadan fell within a few days of each other in 2026, and will continue to do so for the next two to three years. The event aimed to promote togetherness and celebrate the cultural traditions surrounding the moon.

Lei Yan expressed hope that students left with a deeper understanding of the holiday and a desire to explore Chinese language and culture.