The city of Quincy will recognize Lunar New Year as a school holiday starting in 2027, following a 6-0 vote from the school board on Wednesday.
Lunar New Year is a holiday celebrated by Asian cultures over about two weeks to mark the start of the lunisolar calendar, which combines lunar cycles with the solar year. The period, generally in January or February, usually entails cultural rituals ranging from stuffing dumplings to spending time with family.
Advocates say they have been trying for over four years to get the holiday recognized. More than 25% of Quincy residents identify as Asian, according to U.S. Census Data. Quincy will join Lexington Public Schools and Brookline Public Schools in observation.
Tom Leung, a school committee member who was elected last year, says he is thrilled about the decision. He also attended Quincy Public Schools, and recalls having to go to class on a holiday with cultural significance for him and his family. “Our celebration would be abbreviated,” he said.
“To now be able to do this for families for arguably the most important holiday in many Asian cultures,” he said. “I’m just so happy for our families and for our students.”
Over 15 people wrote letters in favor of recognizing Lunar New Year on the city’s open forum ahead of the Wednesday school committee meeting.
“We are extremely fortunate to have the languages, ethnicities, and traditions that this population brings to the community and a great way to do so is to recognize Lunar New Year as a holiday in the school year calendar,” wrote Quincy resident Heather McDuffus.
Philip Chong, CEO of Quincy Asian Resources, Inc. says he and is staff have been working with the city of Quincy and advocating for the recognition of Lunar New Year as a holiday for years.
Chong says the years of failed approvals were just part of the process. “No is the direction to the yes. So when a door is being shut, you just keep working on that, keep that dialogue going and continue that conversation.”
