Pre-School Celebrate Chinese New Year

Over the last few weeks at Pre-School we have been researching, discussing and sharing knowledge about the importance of celebrating Chinese New Year festivities with the Pre-School tamariki (children).

Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival, has more than 4,000 years of history. Chinese New Year, the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar, takes place each year sometime between late January and mid-February. In 2018, Chinese New Year is celebrated from Friday 16 February, and according to the twelve animal’s signs of the Chinese zodiac, 2018 is the Year of the Dog. The Chinese New Year is a time of celebration, reunion, forgiveness, sharing and thanksgiving.

As part of our learning we where able to invite along part of the Qia Yi Lion Dance team that perform their Lion Dance routine throughout the Canterbury region.  A Chinese Lion Dance is an important part of the rich cultural heritage of the Chinese people all over the world. A tradition that is passed from generation to generation, the Lion Dance is used for both entertainment and as a ritual to bring good luck, prosperity and happiness. It is a staple of Chinese ceremonies and special occasions – such as Chinese New Year.

On Friday the Y4 boys came and performed a dance for us, and later in the morning  the Pre-School tamariki  invited the Junior School and Y4 boys  to see an exhilarating New Year Lion Dance performance, put on by the Qia Yi Lion Dance team. 

We learnt that the mandarins the lion was picking up and throwing out to the children during the performance are associated with prosperity and good luck for the new year.

Gong Xi Fa Cai
(Wishing you to be prosperous in the coming year!)