Tessa’s Chinese New Year Celebration

On February 1st, 2020 Tessa International School is excited to host its first Chinese New Year festival!

Chinese New Year (春节) is the Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. Observances traditionally take place from the evening preceding the first day of the year to the Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the year. 

Lantern Festival

Chinese New Year is associated with several myths and customs. The evening preceding Chinese New Year’s Day is frequently regarded as an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. 

Reunion Dinner

For the northern regions of China, dumplings are featured prominently in meals celebrating the festival(Dumpling Making, Blue Classroom). 

It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly clean their house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck. The lion dance is believed to bring good luck and fortune to family and business(Lion Dance, Purple Classroom). 

Lion Dance

Another custom is watching performances with family members (Chinese Opera Mask Making, Green Classroom). 

Chinese Opera

Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red paper envelopes to young generations (get a red envelope at the end of the activity at Purple Classroom).

During the week, our students prepared decorations for the celebration. You can find some of them below!