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Moonstruck: Flossmoor Lunar New Year Celebration a time for renewal, family

Molly Deugaw celebrated her first Lunar New Year when she was in college. Her roommate, who was from Hong Kong, introduced her to the centuries-old holiday that is celebrated by some 1.5 billion people all over the world.

Deugaw, a member of the Community Relations Commission, has been celebrating the Lunar New Year ever since. She organized a Lunar New Year celebration in Flossmoor three years ago. The free, family-friendly event brought in 50 people that first year and 75 the next.

About 80 people attended this year’s event, said Stephanie Wright, Community Engagement manager for the Village of Flossmoor and School District 161 and an event organizer. “A lot of families expressed that they would typically go downtown to celebrate. They really appreciated having something in their own backyard,” Wright said.

This year’s celebration was held at the Flossmoor Public Library from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 25.

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“We want to be inclusive. We wanted to bring awareness. It’s the largest celebration in the Asian community,” said Deugaw, who is originally from South Korea. She was adopted at age seven and moved to the United States.

From left, Lunar New Year celebration organizers Phillippa Leon-Thompson, chair of the Flossmoor Community Relations Commission; Stephanie Wright, Flossmoor community engagement manager; and Molly Deugaw, member of the Flossmoor Community Relations Commission. (Lolita Cusic/H-F Chronicle)
From left, Lunar New Year celebration organizers Phillippa Leon-Thompson, chair of the Flossmoor Community Relations Commission; Stephanie Wright, Flossmoor community engagement manager; and Molly Deugaw, member of the Flossmoor Community Relations Commission. (Lolita Cusic/H-F Chronicle)
Yin Ding, a Mandarin teacher at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, writes a name in Mandarin. (Lolita Cusic/H-F Chronicle)
Yin Ding, a Mandarin teacher at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, writes a name in Mandarin. (Lolita Cusic/H-F Chronicle)
Molly Deugaw, Lunar New Year celebration organizer, greets guests. (Lolita Cusic/H-F Chronicle)
Molly Deugaw, Lunar New Year celebration organizer, greets guests. (Lolita Cusic/H-F Chronicle)

At the library event, children were greeted with gifts when they arrived. Deugaw and Flossmoor Community Relations Committee chairperson Phillippa Leon-Thompson gave away Mandarin oranges, bright red envelopes with a crisp $2 bill inside, magnets and bracelets. The oranges symbolize good luck, good health and long life, the red envelopes with money symbolize good luck and prosperity for the year ahead.

  • Talent show winner Chaunto Drape wows the audience with his guitar skills. (Lolita Cusic/H-F Chronicle)
    Talent show winner Chaunto Drape wows the audience with his guitar skills. (Lolita Cusic/H-F Chronicle)

“I’ve got money,” one child said excitedly after receiving an envelope. Parents made sure their children acknowledged the gifts with a thank you and a smile. “What do you say,” said one parent as the child quickly said thank you.

Leon-Thompson, chair of the Flossmoor Community Relations committee said her favorite part of the event is seeing the joy and excitement on the children’s faces.

The Lunar New Year, sometimes referred to as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, is one of the most important holidays in China. It is a time of celebration and renewal, a time to reflect on the past and look to a bright future, a time to honor the ancestors and spend time with family. It usually falls between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20, marking the first new moon of the lunar calendar. Places it is celebrated include China, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam and the United States. There are celebrations in Chicago’s vibrant Chinatown and in suburbs like Flossmoor.

The event was sponsored by the Flossmoor Community Relations Committee and the Flossmoor Public Library. This year’s celebration, the year of the snake, begins on Wednesday, Jan. 29 and lasts 15 days. Deugaw and Leon-Thompson encouraged everyone to wear red on that day, another Lunar New Year tradition.

Everyone loves a good origin story and the Lunar New Year celebration has one. Legend has it that a monster named Nian used to terrorize villagers in China. One day, a wise man showed them how to defeat Nian. It turns out the fierce monster was afraid of noises like firecrackers and other noise makers and the color red. Once he was defeated, the villagers celebrated. Those two elements, firecrackers and the color red, are still an important part of every Lunar New Year celebration.

At the library’s celebration, it felt like a reunion as people greeted each other warmly. The atmosphere was festive and fun. 

“I hope to learn more about the culture and traditions of Lunar New Year and why people celebrate it, “ said Noelle Brandon, 15, a sophomore at Homewood-Flossmoor High School.

Qadree Holmes and Troy Holmes brought their son Nigel to the event for the first time this year. Qadree Holmes said it’s a good opportunity to expose Nigel to different cultural events.

“It gives him a peek into worlds not yet discovered,” he said. Children were able to have their pictures taken against a vibrant backdrop by Flossmoor Public Library Director Jamie Paicely.

From left, Troy, Nigel and Qadree Holmes at the Lunar New Year celebration at Flossmoor Public Library. (Lolita Cusic/H-F Chronicle)
From left, Troy, Nigel and Qadree Holmes at the Lunar New Year celebration at Flossmoor Public Library. (Lolita Cusic/H-F Chronicle)
The Jeppson family returns to the Lunar New Year festival at Flossmoor Public Library for a second year. "They (the children) kept asking when are we going to do it again," said Emily Jeppson of Flossmoor. (Lolita Cusic/H-F Chronicle)
The Jeppson family returns to the Lunar New Year festival at Flossmoor Public Library for a second year. “They (the children) kept asking when are we going to do it again,” said Emily Jeppson of Flossmoor. (Lolita Cusic/H-F Chronicle)

Next, they decorated picture frames for the photos, Emily and Tucker Jessup brought their four children to the event for a second year.

“They kept asking me ‘When are going to do it again’,” Emily Jessup said.

In another corner of the library, a librarian read stories about the holiday to her audience. At another station, Wright showed videos about the holiday and gave out almond and sugar cookies.

“We are always trying in the village of Flossmoor to encourage intergenerational participation. We really like that this event fosters cultural awareness and understanding,” Wright said.

Yin Ding, who teaches Mandarin at H-F, gave kids a quick lesson on Mandarin as she wrote their names for them on bright paper. People waited patiently in line for their turn and left smiling. Ding, who grew up in China, treasures the food and fellowship that is a part of Lunar New Year. 

“We value this like Christmas and Thanksgiving combined,” she said.

The grand finale of the event was a parade, led by Paicely. She jokingly told parade marchers that this was the one time that they could make noise in the library.

Children were given noise makers of all sorts. A few carried paper dragons as they joyfully marched around the children’s section of the library.

  • Angel Fernandez performs on guitar during H-F talent show. (Emmanuel Wright/provided photo)
    Angel Fernandez performs on guitar during H-F talent show. (Emmanuel Wright/provided photo)

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