Chinese New Year Festival

MIMS 2024 Chinese New Year Festival - Year of the Dragon

Saturday, February 24, 2024

10am - 3pm

5445 W. Alabama Street, Houston, TX 77056

Sign up as a volunteer to make our Chinese New Year Festival a success!

Chinese New Year consists of 15 days of celebrations. The initial day of festivities falls on the day of the first new moon between January 21 and February 20.

One folk story is about a monster named Nian (translates to “year”) who attacks people at the start of the year. Nian is afraid of the color red, bright lights and loud noises. These three elements are plentiful in celebrations to chase the monster away. Lion dances scare off evil spirits while dragon dances bring good luck.

The biggest focus for Chinese New Year is family reunions and honoring your ancestors. People travel far and wide to spend time with their families. Celebrations consist of food items filled with symbolism to bring in the luckiest, most prosperous new year. Fish for example means extra, in hopes of extra wealth. Chicken and oranges symbolize good luck, because the Chinese pronunciation is similar.

Preparations are made at the end of the year to make room for more fortune for the new year. For example, families clean their houses to sweep out the bad luck. Also at the end of the year, people wash and cut their hair to avoid washing away your wealth in the new year.

Other common customs include red envelopes filled with money to children, firecrackers, a big meal with family, and paying respects to relatives who have passed away.

The last day of Chinese New Year is the Lantern Festival. On this day, people hang up glowing lanterns and eat sweet rice dumplings called tangyuan.

There are 12 zodiac animals, for each year in the zodiac calendar. The animals have individual characteristics. In 2024, we celebrate the year of the dragon.

Thank you to our participating vendors! A generous 25% of proceeds will be going back to PTO.

Mala Sichuan Bistro

Angry Mom's Kitchen

Fuji Tea

Mama Mia

Liu's Mama Vegetarian

Have further questions? Check out our FAQ

ANNUAL ART AUCTION & RAFFLE

Get ready for an unforgettable celebration this Chinese New Year Festival with our annual Auction and Raffle extravaganza! Prepare to be dazzled by an array of items generously donated by business partners, MIMS families, and in a special highlight this year, a showcase of artistic brilliance from our very own students.

Bidding is happening now and will end at our MIMS' CNY Festival at 3 pm.

https://event.gives/cny24

MIDDLE SCHOOL PERFORMANCES

TSHIRT WINNER

Congratulations to our t-shirt contest winner, 7th Grader Yue Yuan Zhang. Yue Yuan's design will be featured on MIMS' Year of the Dragon t-shirt for purchase here. Also, a special recognition to 5th Grader Amanda Liao in second place and 3rd Grader Christopher Lu in third place.