Surprises of Celebrating Chinese New Year
Posted by Yajuan Zhang
Most people know dumplings are an important part of celebrating Chinese New Year. So do our fifth grade Mandarin students. The day when I told students the whole class would go to the dining room and work with our Chef David and Chef Jessica to make dumplings, the only word I heard from them was “surprise!” Lovely enough, students enjoyed this surprise and expressed their excitement right through the smiles on their faces and even glowing in their eyes and the heart.
Compared to dumplings, only some people know the character 福 (fu) means luck and happiness. The upside down 福 means luck and happiness has arrived. Also not everybody knows the tradition of pasting the spring scrolls on the front doors for prosperity and good luck. When I told students they would make their own 福 spring scrolls and perform the meaning at the assembly day for the Chinese New Year celebration, I heard again the word “surprise!” It was such a joy for me to see how students put their effort focusing on their craft making and the practicing the performance. When we finally got to the moment and made the video of their practice, this time I said the word “surprise!” Yes, “surprise!” — three times in a row, but all in a good way.
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