Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and that sucks.
February is already one of the lamest months of the year due to its 29th day. It shows up every four years and then just dips? Sounds like my father: flaky and useless. Disclaimer: the author of this article knows how leap years work. Please don’t @ me on Twitter calling me a dumb again. It hurt my feelings. Valentine’s Day just adds to the horrid month that is February. The obligatory balloons, chocolates and flowers. Don’t even get me started on those teddy bears that are so big that they could probably kill a toddler.
You’re probably thinking, “Wow, this Jada girl is just a bitter, lonely party pooper who hates fun and the concept of love.” Well, guess what y’all, that is not correct — I actually love love and everything it stands for. I just find the obligation of getting my significant other something in the name of a Hallmark holiday tiring. Also, receiving flowers makes me uncomfortable. It makes me feel like someone died or that I’m in a pageant (equally horrifying).
Despite February’s flaws, the month has a redeeming quality: Lunar New Year. Where are all of my 1995 babies? It’s your year! Be careful this year, 1995 babies. Your zodiac year is your unluckiest year and you could easily be taken by a demon. But onto other things.
For my entire life, my adoptive mother has emphasized the importance of connecting with my culture. When I was younger my mother would take me to Lunar New Year celebrations that were hosted by the adoption agency she went through. We would celebrate with all of the other families and little girls the agency had helped bring together. It was an exciting event where I got to see my friends, receive red envelopes and gifts, and eat a lot of noodles.
As I got older and into middle school and high school, when Lunar New Year would come around, my mother would still give me a festive red envelope with a few dollars in it and some interesting Chinese snacks from her favorite Asian grocery store. Obviously, as an angsty pre-teen/teenager, I didn’t appreciate these small gifts like I should have. Back then, it was about the gifts themselves and not what they represented.
Now that I’m in college, I find the Lunar New Year just as exciting as I did when I was a kid. Celebrating with friends and hitting up Ginger for noodles is a must. Even after all of these years, my mom still gives me a little red envelope, but it’s not about the gifts. It’s about connecting with my culture and celebrating something truly amazing.
Jada Sonnenberg is a sophomore studying marketing at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Let Jada know by tweeting her at @jadachanelle.
