Students from the Early Childhood through Blue Cluster are learning about the traditions of Lunar New Year, one of the most important holidays of the year in cultures that observe the lunisolar calendar. Lunar New Year, also called Spring Festival, is typically celebrated in China, Vietnam, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and Tibet. The Lunar New Year begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later. The dates of the holiday vary slightly from year to year, and usually fall from late January through mid February. This year, the Lunar New Year began on Sunday, January 22, marking the start of the Year of the Rabbit.
In the Early Childhood Division, students in the Willow Room read “Dragons Dance,” by Benrei Huang, and “Lanterns and Firecrackers,” by Jonny Zucker. They also painted and decorated drums for the EC Lunar New Year Parade. The parade was led by a dragon created by students in the Hudson Room, and the Lexington room painted rabbit masks and dragons to display in the parade.
In the Lower Division, the Orange Cluster celebrated the Lunar New Year as part of their study of China in their World Cultures curriculum. Students learned to write in calligraphy, made paper lanterns, listened to traditional music, and practiced the art of using chopsticks. Additionally, several students whose families celebrate the Lunar New Year came to school dressed in traditional attire to share with their classmates, and also brought in red envelopes and sweet treats.
Yellow, Green and Silver Cluster students in photography teacher Jessica Ressler’s class created animated Lunar New Year gifs to celebrate the holiday. According to Ms. Ressler, “They had a BLAST working on them and there was so much creativity!”
Students in the Blue Cluster will continue their study of the holiday and its traditions this week in their assembly and in their classrooms.
