Happy Lunar New Year! 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit.
Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year began on Sunday, January 22nd, 2023, and celebrations culminate on February 5th, 2023.
Beginning over 2000 years ago, the festival has developed many meanings. It celebrates family reunions and society. It features ancient spiritual traditions. Some also call this the “true” Chinese Valentine’s Day. The Chinese New Year holiday comes to its climax with the Yuan Xiao (元宵节 / yuán xiāo jié), or Lantern Festival, celebrated on February 5th, 2023.
Throughout history, countless variations of lanterns have been created. They can be small globes that fit in your palm, or as large as a parade float. People make lanterns in symbolic designs as well.
A famous variation is the Kongming lantern (孔明灯 / kǒng míng dēng). They represent hope, success and happiness. In the past, people used these lanterns to signify they were safe after an attack.Now, they are used for wishes.
Also known as the sky lantern (天灯 / tiān dēng), it sounds similar to 添丁 (tiān ding), which means “adding children”. Lanterns would be gifted to newlyweds or couples without children to pass on the blessings.
Some regions also burn lanterns to determine the gender of their future child from the shape of the ashes.
Wishing our families Good luck, Good Fortune, Happiness, Long Life and Love.
Sincerely,
Principal Shelton