The Foundation for a Meaningful Life
Kindergarten - Grade 9 in Southborough, MA
Kindergarten - Grade 9 in Southborough, MA
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Happy New Year!
Primary School students celebrated Lunar New Year this week in Morning Meeting with a presentation by first grade, a musical performance, and a traditional dragon dance led by the second grade. Many students wore red to school as the symbol of good luck, health, and prosperity in Chinese culture, with some students wearing traditional clothing to celebrate the New Year.
First graders shared what they have learned about the Lunar New Year, which is the most important holiday in China and is also celebrated in many other Asian countries. Students explained that Lunar New Year starts in January or February and lasts for 15 days. The Chinese zodiac is on a 12-year cycle, with each year represented as an animal. 2022 is the year of the tiger. Families celebrate the Lunar New Year by opening all the doors and windows and cleaning the bad memories out of their house. They gather to celebrate and leave a space at the table for any departed loved ones. The Lunar New Year celebrations are also rich with symbolism. Dragons and fireworks scare away the bad luck and bring in good fortune, as do the colors red and gold. In China, people give hongbao, red envelopes filled with money or gold coins, to celebrate Lunar New Year.
Under the direction of Music Teacher Phil Montgomery, second graders performed “Xīn nián kuài lè” (which means Happy New Year in Mandarin). They have been learning and practicing this song for several weeks, and they performed accompanied by several second grade students on xylophones. The song echoes many of the traditions that first graders spoke about in their presentation. “Welcome in the New Year. Sweep out the old. Lanterns, firecrackers, red and gold.”
The celebration’s highlight was a traditional dragon dance performed by second graders. Each section created a dragon in art class with Cathy Gruetzke-Blais. The students made two beautifully decorated dragons, each fitting 5-6 students underneath, with fearsome dragon heads. Physical Education teacher Jack Wong choreographed their dance as they marched around the room, weaving throughout the rows of students to spread good luck. Each dragon was led by a student carrying the “pearl of wisdom,” a decorated sphere on a pole that symbolizes the search for wisdom and truth. Students were presented with hongbao filled with a gold-foil-covered chocolate coin when they returned to class!
Xīn nián kuài lè to all families who celebrate!
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48 MAIN STREET
SOUTHBOROUGH, MA 01772
main number 508-490-8250
admission 508-490-8201
SOUTHBOROUGH, MA 01772
main number 508-490-8250
admission 508-490-8201
