Howell Road School kindergarten students celebrated the start of the Chinese New Year by wearing red and marching in a grand parade throughout the school.
During the event, the students learned the meaning of tradition, and how different groups of people celebrate holidays unique to them. The students decorated the hallways with signs that read "Gung Hay Fat Choy," which translates to "Best wishes and congratulations. Have a prosperous and good new year." They also sang songs in celebration of the holiday season and paraded around the school with a traditional paper dragon, a popular symbol of Chinese New Year that represents strength, goodness and good luck. The event culminated a week of learning in which students were taught several of the traditions of the Chinese New Year, including the handing down of beliefs, legends and customs from generation to generation.
Considered the most important of all Chinese holidays, the New Year celebration begins on the first day of the lunar calendar and ends on the first day of the full moon. This year, which is the Year of the Monkey, the first day of the lunar calendar fell on Feb. 7, and the celebration came to a close on Feb. 22.
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