January 2011 - Mini Gryphon.indd - Meadowridge School

Meadowridge School
Page 8 | JANUARY 2012
C H I N E S E N E W Y E A R F E S T I VA L
Year of the Dragon 2012: Chinese, Korean and Lunar New Year
We would like to wish the Chinese,
Korean and other Asian communities a
Happy New Year. January 23rd marked
this signif icant cultural event that took
place on the f irst day in the f irst month
of the Lunar Year. Chinese New Year is
a time for families to come together and
wish each other well. Many interesting
customs and traditions are obser ved
in the hopes that they will bring about
wealth, good health, and prosperity.
There are cer tain things that are avoided
on this day because they may bring about
bad luck and misfor tune. For example,
the washing or cutting of hair is avoided
because good luck may be washed away.
Floors are not swept for fear that good
luck may be swept away as well. People,
especially children, are encouraged to be
careful about what they say because their
words may bring bad luck. Arguing with
others is also avoided so that the New
Year is f illed with harmony and peace.
While there are several things one should
not do at this time, there are also many
things encouraged to help bring about
the best in the New Year. Chinese feasts
have a wide variety of food because they
symbolize and bring about a bountiful
har vest in many areas of life. People
wear red clothes because this colour is
considered lucky. During a lion dance,
the sounds of f irecrackers and other loud
noises f ill the air to ward off evil spirits.
The paying off of debts is encouraged
to star t the year off on the road to
prosperity. To pass on good for tune to
their children, parents and relatives hand
out red envelopes f illed with money.
Lastly, Chinese New Year is a time to
wear new clothes and enjoy the company
of family.
We were for tunate within the
Meadowridge Community this past week
to have had such a wonder ful gathering
on New Year’s Day. This was our biggest
Chinese New Year celebration at the
school to date. Parents, students and
families watched our Meadowridge
students per form a lion dance and take
par t in a dragon parade. We are grateful
for the beautiful handmade dragon that
was created for this special occasion.
Parents organized a Chinese New Year
exhibition that included calligraphy, Kung
Thank You:
PAR ENTS:
Peter Chan, Lynette Tho, Steve Guo, Iris Li,
Maggie Ma, Shiny Shi, Linda Li, Gang Chen,
Bill Zhang, Lian Zhao, Serena Zhou, Lana
Wu, Bing Li, Yun Wei, Mary Qi, Jing Jing Li,
Shirly He and Carl He.
STAFF/TEACHERS:
Mr. Burke, Ms. Durno, Ms. Tyler, Ms. Chow,
Ms. Lum, Ms. Metz and Mr. Diniz
PER FOR MERS:
Rosa Cheng (Principal Per former with the
Vancouver Cantonese Opera)
Master Simon and students from Wing Chun
Mar tial Ar ts
Anika (Grade 8 Meadowridge student)
Phoebe (Grade 6 Meadowridge student)