On Sept 29, 2023, the Asian Heritage Club (AHC) participated in its first ever Club Fair, attracting the attention of quite a crowd with its colorful crafts and flyers. The paper crane craft appeared to be a fan favorite because, by the end of A lunch, all the origami paper was folded up into neat paper cranes. Club members were also able to sell a few mooncakes for the holiday on the same day, the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Sept 29 coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival which, according to travelandleisure.com, is typically observed throughout China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month when the moon is the brightest. In general, many Asian holidays are still tied to the Lunar calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar used most commonly today. This is because, as mentioned in China Highlights, farmers thousands of years ago based their agricultural schedules on the moon’s phases. The Mid-Autumn Festival has a history spanning over 3,000 years, and it started off as a royal sacrificial ceremony associated with moon worshiping and agricultural activities. People believed that paying homage to the moon would yield a plentiful harvest. In today’s world, the full moon symbolizes unity in a family. People celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival by eating mooncakes, releasing sky lanterns, and appreciating the moon’s beauty together with families and friends. Depending on the culture, the length of the celebration and the specific customs can differ. For instance, according to the South China Morning Post, on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Hong Kong recommenced its Fire Dragon Dance after a four-year intermission due to the pandemic. In Tai Hang, Hong Kong, the Fire Dragon dance involves hundreds of volunteers, and it typically attracts thousands of spectators. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a truly special holiday for many Asians.

The Asian Heritage Club is a relatively new addition to the Morris Hills Community. In fact, it was founded last year, and it has been growing incrementally ever since. This past March, the AHC won Best Food in the Multicultural Dinner hosted by the ERASE Club. About a week later, it collaborated with Women in STEM and Girl Up for an entertaining Movie Night. This past May, the AHC joined the Pride Club to tour Stonewall National Historic Monument in New York City to learn more about LGBTQ+ history. After a stressful AP season, the AHC wrapped it all up with a Game Night featuring gifts from varying cultures: Chinese Chess, Go, and more. Unfortunately, Mr. Higgins, one of the club’s advisors, retired last year, so it will be up to Ms. Pepperman to bear the torch.

This year’s AHC Social Media Organizer, Kairi Senzer, has organized a phenomenal Instagram page: @mhhsasianheritageclub. On the club’s page, she featured the club’s fundraiser, Lollitunes (Bluetooth lollipops), and interactive trivia. After taking dozens of pictures of the Morris Hills students and staff with the “I Love Asians” sign, she curated a unique video promoting appreciation for Asian culture, history, and people. “I really wanted to do something that could get even non-club members involved with the club, and it seemed like the perfect thing that’s both funny and could bring a lot of attention to the club! Overall I think everyone who participated had fun with it and seeing themselves in the reels,” remarked Senzer. “I Love Asians” truly embodies the spirit of Morris Hills’s Asian Heritage Club.