HS Students Celebrate the Lunar New Year
The Year of the Dragon
North Shore High School students under the leadership of Mandarin teachers Cai LiHong and Cynthia Li, celebrated the Lunar New Year by setting up a table outside of the cafeteria with a number of creative and fun activities for students and faculty to enjoy! It included Stone Rubbing, Pitch Potting, and Chinese Calligraphy. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon representing an especially lucky year to be born. People born in this year are believed to be ambitious, confident, and charismatic.
It is believed that “a good start to the New Year will lead to a lucky year.” The Chinese New Year festival is many centuries old and is celebrated in many countries and territories around the world including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Students and faculty members at the high school including Director of World Languages and ENL, Ms. Ana Aguiar-Mady, joined in the fun to help celebrate Lunar New Year! Sweets were also handed out! Thank you to everyone who initiated and participated in these joyous and authentic Lunar New Year activities (see below for descriptions of each).
Activity 1: Stone Rubbing (拓印)
Stone Rubbing--拓印" (tà yìn) is a traditional Chinese art form involving the creation of impressions or rubbings from relief designs on stone surfaces. It's a method for replicating ancient inscriptions and artistic motifs onto paper or fabric, preserving cultural heritage, and serving as a form of artistic expression. This ancient technique involves creating a copy or impression of a relief design on a stone surface onto a piece of paper or fabric. The process typically starts with selecting a suitable stone with a smooth, flat surface. Then, ink or pigment is applied evenly to the stone's surface. Next, a piece of paper or fabric is carefully laid over the inked surface, and gentle pressure is applied to transfer the design onto the material. The result is a detailed and often intricate reproduction of the original relief artwork.
Activity 2: Pitch Potting(投壶)
“投壶" (tóu hú) is a traditional Chinese game with roots dating back to ancient times. Also known as "pitch-pot" or "pitch-penny," it's a game that involves tossing or pitching small objects, usually coins or metal discs, into a pot or container. The game of 投壶 is typically played outdoors, often during festive occasions such as the Chinese New Year celebrations, temple fairs, or family gatherings. It requires skill, precision, and a bit of luck. The objective is to accurately throw the coins or discs into a pot or container placed at a certain distance away. Players take turns attempting to land their objects into the pot, with each successful throw earning points.
Activity 3: Chinese Calligraphy (书法)
During Chinese New Year, writing calligraphy of "福" (meaning "good fortune") and "春" (meaning "spring") is a cherished tradition. both "福" and "春" calligraphy are deeply rooted in Chinese culture and are imbued with symbolism that resonates throughout the Chinese New Year celebrations and beyond. They serve as powerful reminders of the values of prosperity, happiness, and renewal that are central to the holiday spirit.
Photos by Shelly Newman