Hillside Elementary School is celebrating Lunar New Year this week!

In Nina D'Amato and Caren Cort’s kindergarten class, students learned that Lunar New Year is a large celebration for the Korean and Vietnamese American community, often referred to as the Spring Festival because it signals the beginning of spring. It is a time when families and friends get together to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new. 

In Chinese culture specifically, the dragon symbolizes wisdom, authority, prosperity, health and protection. It is even believed that performing the dragon dance during festivals drives away evil spirits and ushers in good luck and blessings.

"The kids made dragons and we did a dragon dance to celebrate!" said D'Amato.

Kindergarteners in Tasnim Nagrath’s class also joined the festivities, inviting the parents of two students to do a reading which explored the meaning of Lunar New Year and the Year of the Rabbit, and, afterwards, enjoying some delicious treats.