The Lunar New Year is the beginning of a lunar calendar - or lunisolar calendar year - whose months are moon cycles. The event is celebrated by numerous cultures in various ways at diverse dates.
On Friday, January 27, Mrs. Penry's Kindergarten Class - under the direction of student teacher, Danni Noyes - learned about China and how the Chinese people, among others, celebrate Lunar New Year. They learned how those in China write with characters, how each year is represented by 12 zodiac animals, and that they decorate with red (the color of happiness) during the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Students also learned that the lantern festival and dragon parade are held on the last day of Chinese New Year celebrations. Students held a lantern festival and dragon parade. To prepare for this parade, they made lanterns, made banners and wrote characters onto the banners, wore red, and brought in oranges and apples which symbolizes luck, peace, and fortune.
The kinders invited the other classes to watch their dragon parade, while the kinders dressed as the dragon, walked down the hall, and wished everyone a Happy New Year in Cantonese: “Gong Hei Fat Choy!” Fan VanWagner, the celebration specialist, taught the students how to eat with chopsticks and shared red envelopes and treats specific to China. According to Penry, “Our students were very excited to learn about the country of China, their culture, and a holiday important to them. “
Photos credit to Brenna Penry