This year, the Chinese or Lunar New Year begins on Feb. 1 and we will be celebrating the Year of the Water Tiger.

Michele Kong, M.D.

This festival is celebrated by almost two billion people across the world, and as AAPI, we look forward to this time of celebration and festivity as well! The Lunar New Year celebrations typically last 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year’s Eve, on Jan. 31 until Feb. 15. The final day of the Chinese New Year is often symbolized by the Lantern Festival when paper lanterns are released off into the sky! We wish all our AAPI members a happy Chinese New Year

Herb Chen, M.D., FACS

"We enjoy celebrating CNY with a group of faculty and residents annually here at UAB!"  

*Photos above were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jenny Hsin, MS2

"My family always puts out a big spread for Lunar New Year to pay respects to our ancestors. Some of the dishes also have a special meaning to bring good fortune for the new year. For example, dumplings look like gold pieces from ancient times, so they’re said to bring financial luck. There’s also a vegetable in the mustard family that has really long, green leaves. In Chinese, the name of the dish translated means “long years”, so we eat it for a long life and good health. Additionally, the Chinese word for “fish” also sounds similar to the Chinese word “abundance” so we eat fish to hope for a plentiful year. Of course, as a child, I was just happy there were so many of my favorite foods to eat! Happy Lunar New Year to all!"

Samuel Chang, MS3

"Growing up, LNY was a holiday centered around spending time with family over lots of amazing food! Since the pandemic, although our family has had to celebrate more “distantly”, we still try and do fun things like wrap dumplings over FaceTime, call our relatives in Asia, and send care packages full of Asian baked treats!"

Teressa Duong, MS3

Lunar New Year is all about eating amazing Vietnamese food with my family and singing karaoke all night long. One fun tradition that we do is giving out “lì xì” to younger members of the family as good luck money for them to grow fast & healthily. Because I am technically still in school, I still get “lì xì” so thank you medical school for that! 

Carmen Tong, pediatric urologist

"Lunar New Year was my favorite holiday growing up. In Hong Kong, the holiday meant a full two weeks off from school! I remember spending the days leading up to the Spring Festival making Tangyuan (sweet rice balls), decorating the house with upside down “fuk” (good luck) written on red paper, and of course, collecting the coveted red pocket money from my elders. More importantly though, the celebrations mean a time for family reunions and remembrance of those who have passed. These days, even though my family is spread across the globe and my parents have moved back to Hong Kong, I still make sure I call them early the morning of Lunar New Year (their time zone, of course!) to wish them a happy and healthy new year."