Kindergarten students at Howell Road School celebrated Chinese New Year dressing in red and marching in a grand parade throughout the school. 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 was the year of the Ram.
During the celebration, the students learned the concept of tradition, and to understand and respect that different groups of people celebrate holidays unique to them.
The students decorated the school 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 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 Chinese New Year, including the handing down of beliefs, legends and customs from generation to generation.
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