Happy Lunar New Year
3rd February 2022
Chúc mừng năm mới! Xin nian kuai le! Gōng hè xīn xǐ!
Happy New Year of the Tiger!
More than just the beginning of a new calendar year, the Lunar New Year is seen as a time of reunion and rebirth, marking the end of winter and the start of spring.
Many Asian cultures follow a lunar, rather than solar, calendar, so the Lunar New Year falls on a different day on the Gregorian calendar every year. In 2022, Lunar New Year's Eve fell on Jan. 31, and the new year began on Tuesday, Feb. 1.
The Lunar calendar is on a 12-year cycle, with each year linked a different animal -- the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The year 2022 in the Gregorian calendar is designated the Year of the Tiger.
Various Asian cultures have their own distinct ways of ringing in the new year: In Vietnam, the Lunar New Year is called Tết, and is celebrated with bánh chung (sticky rice cakes), bushels of yellow ochna flowers and visits to friends, relatives and neighbors. In Malaysia, celebrants enjoy yeesang, a dish of raw fish and shredded vegetables.
This week in Year 4 we were surprised by a special guest! Mama Aurora came in to help us celebrate Lunar New Year! She told us stories and helped us participate in a special tradition of receiving a lucky red envelope with a special treat inside. The children then thanked her with a respectful wish for good health and a prosperous new year. We learned how to say 'Gung Hay Fat Choy' ( Happy New Year) and 'Xie Xie' (Thank you) in Cantonese.
Xie Xie, Mama Aurora, That was such a great surprise!
BISA would like to wish a happy and prosperous new year to all of our Asian community!
