Lunar New Year
This week in Nursery we are celebrating Lunar New Year. Historically we have called this Chinese New Year; however we know and understand now that this festival is celebrated in many countries all around the world, including
China, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines.
What is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year starts on the first new moon of the lunisolar calendar, which is based on the cycles of the moon and ends on the next full moon fifteen days later
The history of LNY broadly centred around creating offerings and enacting traditions that would bless the food harvests for the new year. Today, festivities often involve coming together with loved ones, enjoying good food, viewing a lion dance, making loud noises (traditionally to scare away bad spirits) and spring cleaning. This is what our activities and learning this week will focus on.
It is ok for anyone to celebrate LNY, even if you’re not from that country or from a particular culture, as long as it is respectful.
We watched the lion dancers, and listened to the loud noises to scare bad things away. Then we made some loud noises of our own!
Lion dance
Lion dance
Lion dance
Lion dance
Lion dance
We hung our lucky red envelopes and lanterns on a tree.
