Quincy Schools' Decision on Lunar New Year Cheered

Quincy Public Schools will recognize Lunar New Year as a holiday starting in 2027, a decision that parents, students and community members have advocated for years.

Usually falling between January and February, Lunar New Year festival marks the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. It’s widely celebrated by China, Korea, Vietnam and other Asian countries.

In this school district where nearly 40% of students identify as Asian, students used to have to choose between education and following their cultural rituals before the holiday was recognized. On Lunar New Year 2025, one in five of students took a day off from school, according to Tom Leung, a school committee member.

Before the proposal was approved in May, the school committee voted against it for three consecutive years. In 2024, though city council members unanimously passed an order to recognize the holiday, the school committee asserted that it had final say on the school calendar.

“People felt pain being denied,” said Leung.

When running for the committee for the first time last November, Leung knew that the holiday meant representation for the rapidly growing Asian population, allowing children to embrace their culture in an inclusive environment. He noted that this decision was welcomed by non-Asians and those who don't have a direct connection to the festival.

“I don’t celebrate Lunar New Year, but I think of myself as a good neighbor who celebrates all members of my community, not just those who look like me and celebrate the same holidays I do. It is imperative that we ensure members of the Asian community feel welcomed in this city,” said resident Alexandra Carlson in a letter to the school committee.

Growing up in Quincy, Leung recalled that celebrating Lunar New Year as a school holiday was unimaginable for him when he was young.

Now a parent of three Quincy Public Schools students, Leung was proud that his children not only felt supported and seen but also witnessed the public advocacy that made it happen.

“Representation matters,” he said, “and it's important to have representation at all levels of government, including at the local school committee level.”

Phillip Lee, a Chinese immigrant who lived in Quincy for 30 years, said he was happy to hear that schools would recognize this holiday, noting that people in his neighborhood, regardless of their age and ethnicity, enjoy the celebration every year.

ROAR: Quincy public schools will now recognize the Lunar New Year.

Celebrating Lunar New Year has always been a tradition that his family cherishes. “My child used to enjoy observing what adults did on Lunar New Year, like wearing new clothes.”

For families and community members who experienced years of rejection and failed attempts, a question that remained is why this request took so long, said Philip Chong, president of Quincy Asian Resources, Inc.

“I think this decision reflects years of collaboration among community organizations, educators, city leaders, families, and advocates,” Chong said. “Sometimes the most lasting change happens because people continue showing up, working together, and building understanding over time.”

Chong said he understands that people might have different perspectives on whether recognizing one festival is unfair for other communities whose traditions have not gained the same recognition. He hopes the journey of Lunar New Year becoming a holiday opens more discussion.

“If people think that a certain holiday is really important, that it really requires recognition as a public holiday for the school system, I think we should talk about that. We should discuss, and we should really look into it.”

For more than 30 years, QARI has been holding annual Lunar New Year celebrations. This year, families from every background came together to experience lion dance performance, music, food from local vendors, and activities for children at North Quincy High School.

Chong said the festival has been more like a Quincy tradition than simply being an Asian event.

“Recognition is important, but it is only one step,” Chong said. “We want every child in Quincy to grow up feeling proud of their own heritage, while also learning about the cultures of their classmates, that's what builds strong communities.”