Stepping inside a kaleidoscope of red, a world of celebration and community intertwines. A cascade of red paper lanterns dangles delicately from the ceiling, dancing in the air as students come and go. The door is adorned with vibrant couplets, their Chinese characters carrying messages of prosperity and good luck. Above the windows, scarlet firecrackers burst forth in a riot of red, each crinkle and fold, capturing the essence of the new year.

In this space, where culture meets artistic expression, Chinese Club and Meraki collaborate to commemorate the Chinese New Year, senior Justine Yam, Chinese Club president, said.

With Meraki collaborating  with Chinese Club, a comprehensive plan was devised to decorate the Chinese classroom for the Lunar New Year, Yam explained. Above the whiteboards, paper crackers were adorned, while lanterns graced the ceiling and couplets bordered the door—all symbolic elements deeply rooted in Chinese culture, Yam described.

“We have all these different components for the club members to work on and decorate, and it’s all going to be red because red is the lucky color for Chinese culture,” Yam said. “A lot of symbols in Chinese culture represent good fortune and a good start to your new year.”

By coming together, Chinese Club and Meraki were not simply decorating, they were developing a stronger connection to Chinese culture and promoting unity and understanding among the students, Yam conveyed.

“[This collaboration was] a good way to connect to Chinese culture and engage in these activities, [especially since] there’s a small Chinese community at South and Chinese Club is on the smaller side,” Yam said. “So collaborating with another club [created] a sense of community for all our students and club members.”

Both clubs were eager to collaborate on this project to raise awareness about the Chinese New Year, sophomore Kailyn Sam, Meraki Project Execution Director, said. Their shared goal was to represent the significance of this holiday through their decorations and bring attention to Chinese culture at South, Sam said.

“We decided to collaborate with the Chinese club because we thought it would be a great opportunity for people who may not be familiar with Chinese New Year to learn about it and the culture that comes with it,” Sam said.

The lanterns, firecrackers, couplets, and envelopes, all mark the festive spirit of the New Year, Meraki Co-President junior Rena Jun, said. Meraki and the Chinese Club’s joint teamwork illuminates the festival’s rich traditions and values of reunion, companionship, and family bonds.

“[The decorations] are meaningful for the holiday and for [Chinese] culture,” Jun said. “Our collaboration with the Chinese club will help spread the word [about] their culture. The main message of Chinese New Years is to reunite and spend time with family and friends.”