Good Luck, Strength, and Health: Kohl’s Recognizes Lunar New Year

By Michelle A. Banks, Kohl’s Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer

The sound of firecrackers, the reuniting of families and the smell of delicious food all signal the start of Lunar New Year. This weekend, many Asian communities worldwide will say farewell to the Year of the Rabbit and usher in the Year of the Dragon. In addition to marking the beginning of a new calendar cycle, Lunar New Year symbolizes reunion and rebirth. 

Festivities, customs and plenty of feasts

I recently connected with Jeff Hom, Executive Vice President and General Merchandising Manager of Kohls Home Department, a first-generation Chinese-American. I wanted to hear more from him on his thoughts on Lunar New Year. He began to share how the Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year, has always been a special time of year. This was mostly because his parents owned one of the first Chinese restaurants in the Detroit area, where they hosted big Chinese New Year banquet-style dinners for mostly non-Chinese patrons. This was an opportunity for him to share a small piece of Chinese culture and build stronger connections with his neighbors. His perspective opened my eyes to another side of Lunar New Year and was a great example of why we should celebrate what is important to others.

Our associates practice many traditions and customs to welcome a prosperous and auspicious year. I am grateful for Kohl’s Asian Pacific Business Resource Group (AP BRG) and their willingness to help bring awareness of Lunar New Year to our Kohl’s associates and offer open discussions that matter to Asian Pacific communities. I am excited to introduce two of our AP BRG members, Christine Yip and Katie Yau, who shared what this moment means to them. 

Christine Yip, Lead Technical Designer

How do you celebrate Lunar New Year? 

Growing up as a child, I remember my mom waking up early on the first day of Lunar New Year and preparing a vegetarian meal. She would play joyful and happy Chinese New Year music while preparing the meal. After she was done cooking, we would gather as a family and enjoy the meal. Throughout the day, we would visit other family members and continue to eat more delicious foods. We would also receive "hong bao" –  red envelopes stuffed with money. These hong baos represent good luck, happiness, prosperity, good health, and wealth!

What does Lunar New Year signify to you? 

Lunar New Year signifies happiness and family to me. Family is very important in our culture, and growing up Lunar New Year always brought us all together. 

What makes you proud of your heritage?

Although I am a first-generation American, my ancestors and family are from China. Many of their strong beliefs, including the importance of family, a high level of respect for each other, integrity, harmony, and many more, were taught to me at a young age. Each of these beliefs holds a strong value and is very important in our culture, and they have helped me develop into the person I am today. 

How do you celebrate Lunar New Year?

In preparation for Lunar New Year, we ensure the house and traditional shrines are clean. The day before Lunar New Year, my mom would cook a traditional meal which consists of: Ca Chien (Fried Fish), Tom Thit (Shrimp and Pork), Mi xao (Stir-fried noodles), Banh tet (Sticky Rice Cake) –  an offering to our ancestors. On Lunar New Year, my family and I celebrate by getting together and enjoying some traditional foods made by my mom with the help of her children.

Amy Nguyen-Casillas, Store Manager

We make thit Kho (Caramelized Pork Belly with Eggs and Bamboo), Cua Xao (Stir-fried crab with Ginger and scallion) and Che (Vietnamese Dessert) – to name a few. We also hand out red envelopes to the kids and elders for good luck in the new year. We would play bau cua ca cop (Vietnamese dice game), and my mom is in charge, which she loves. It's a great way to get the kids involved and have fun.

What does Lunar New Year signify to you?

Lunar New Year signifies family time and remembering those who came before us. It reminds me of new beginnings and the importance of traditions. It's a time to share your memories and what you look forward to in the new year.

What makes you proud of your heritage?

I'm proud of my heritage because of the emphasis on family and traditions.  

Katie Yau, Inventory Deployment Planner 

How do you celebrate Lunar New Year?

How my family and I celebrated Lunar New Year has changed but still has the same meaning. When my siblings and I were younger, we would see the lion dance performed by our local cultural center! My family would also make several dishes, symbolic of bringing in good fortune or prosperity for the new year. My favorite dish was nian gao. We would also receive red envelopes filled with money. Now that my siblings and I have grown up, we're spread a little farther apart, making it challenging to go home every year, so now we all celebrate with a family video call and enjoy our favorite Chinese dishes on our own! 

What does Lunar New Year signify to you?

Lunar New Year signifies a time for family and celebration! Similar to how I celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year's Day in the U.S., Lunar New Year is a time for new beginnings, reflection and some great food. This holiday is a time for my family and me to come together - virtually or in-person - and celebrate our culture. 

What makes you proud of your heritage?

What makes me proud of my heritage is knowing that I would not be here today if not for the actions of my grandparents and great-grandparents. My grandparents fled from China to Taiwan when they were young. My parents eventually immigrated to the U.S. after growing up in Taiwan. My mom attended UW-Milwaukee, and my dad went to Marquette. They met at an international student exchange between the two schools, and the rest is history. My family has suffered greatly to provide the next generation with a better life. They have taught me resilience, perseverance and how strong love can be. 

Sending a big thank you to Christine and Katie for sharing their perspectives with us.

The Year of the Dragon

Food and family are a huge part of Lunar New Year celebrations. To help our customers decorate and ring in the Year of the Dragon in style, we partnered with Stevie Shao, a Seattle-born-and-raised illustrator and muralist, to design home goods, such as chopsticks, kitchen towels, stoneware trays, stoneware dipping bowls and stoneware serving bowls, as well as the apparel and accessories in our Lunar New Year collection. Stevie Shao’s work draws inspiration from the Year of the Dragon, her love of plants and animals from the region, her historical illustration styles, and her Chinese background. Find her work exclusively at Kohl’s and on Instagram @stepfrae, and look at this specially curated collection below. 

Lunar New Year revolves around love, family and community and offers an opportunity to reflect on the past year and prepare for the good fortune to come. 

Michelle A. Banks