Welcoming a New Year: Chinese New Year Celebrations in Hiba

On the day of the event, the nursery stage was bustling with excitement. Children dressed in festive costumes and presented a dazzling array of performances. The majestic dragon and lion dances, the melodious ensemble of instruments in the performance "Golden Snake Dance", the cheerful New Year song and drum music "Yuanri", the fantastical multimedia dance drama "Nuwa Creates Humans", the harmonious blend of strength and softness in Chinese Kung Fu, and the lively coconut dance—all these acts showcased the children's hard work and endless creativity. The audience was captivated by the brilliant performances of the young actors, and the venue was filled with thunderous applause and cheerful shouts. 

Moving to the multifunctional hall on the first floor of the nursery, impressive shadow puppet shows were being performed. As a treasure of Chinese traditional culture, shadow puppetry attracted the children's attention with its unique artistic form. The four puppet shows featured dramatic plot twists and lifelike characters. The interplay of light and shadows made children feel as if they were traveling through time, experiencing the charm of this ancient art. Through watching and interacting, the children not only learned about the process of making shadow puppets but also developed a keen interest in traditional culture. 

In the cultural tradition exploration session, children, under the guidance of teachers and parents, got hands-on experience with traditional crafts such as making sachets, kneading dough figurines, blowing sugar figures, writing spring couplets, fluffing flowers, sugar painting and designing lacquered fans. The fragrance of the sachets, the cuteness of the dough figurines, the crystal transparency of the sugar figures, the aroma of the ink in the spring couplets, the endless changes of fluffing flowers, the vivid depictions in sugar painting and the exquisite lacquered fans all allowed the children to experience the profound and endless fun of traditional culture through hands-on activities. 

On the second floor of the nursery, the food booths were buzzing with activity. Traditional foods like dumplings, toothpick meat, popcorn, eight-treasure rice, candied haws, flower cakes and rice cakes were displayed in abundance, filling the air with delightful aromas. As the children enjoyed the delicious treats, they also learned about the cultural stories and production techniques behind these foods. The culinary delights not only satisfied their taste buds but also allowed them to feel the rich atmosphere of the New Year in the midst of laughter and chatter. 

In Hiba Primary, the Chinese New Year performance was a highlight of the celebration. On stage, pupils recited poems in fluent English, showcasing their love for and mastery of language; they performed songs in both Chinese and English, reflecting the blend and clash of cultures. The performances ranged from the melodious tones of the orchestra and the lingering charm of traditional opera to the passionate rock music, the perfect fusion of ethnic and street dances, and the harmony of strength and flexibility in martial arts demonstrations. Each of the seventeen programs had its unique characteristics, continuously pushing the atmosphere to new heights with their stunning visual and auditory feast for the audience. 

Chinese New Year is not just a holiday; it is a moment rich with cultural significance and beautiful prospects. Therefore, through these carefully designed activities, we hope that pupils not only feel the auspiciousness and good fortune brought by the Year of the Snake but also draw wisdom from the agile snake, develop keen observational skills to perceive the world, use their wise minds to calmly face various challenges in life and embrace the changes of the times with flexibility. 

The Chinese New Year celebration not only provided teachers and pupils with a visual and auditory feast but also offered an excellent opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of Chinese culture. As native language learners, we understand the significance of cultural heritage in the growth of pupils. Thus, we sincerely hope that Hiba pupils can deeply root themselves in the fertile soil of Chinese culture through this event, appreciating the profound and extensive traditional culture while also adopting an open mindset to embrace the essence of diverse cultures, striving to become outstanding young people with deep cultural roots and broad international perspectives in the new era. We believe that with such nurturing, they will undoubtedly become pillars of society in the future, contributing their strength to the peace and development of the world.