We were delighted to welcome in the Year of the Tiger and celebrate the Chinese New Year with boys across the school this week.
Throughout the week, boys learned all about Chinese New Year, from the preparations beforehand, such as settling all unfinished business for a fresh start to the year, to the significance and activities on each of the 16 days, from New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival.
A number of boys, including our boarders in Eagle House, enjoyed the tradition of receiving hóngbāo (Mandarin) or lai see (Cantonese): lucky red envelopes filled with rice-paper money or sweets as a wish for good luck and fortune in the New Year.
Brilliant window displays celebrating the New Year and the Year of the Tiger have also popped up around the school throughout the week as tutor groups vie to be voted the most creative. The winner will be announced early next week.
Our Y8 Eagle House boarders from China and Hong Kong were also on hand to present a special assembly on Chinese New Year. They spoke proudly about numerous aspects of Chinese New Year to boys in Y7 and Y8, including the legend of the monster, traditional food, the relevance of lanterns, signs of the zodiac, lion dancers, and even taught the boys some Mandarin and Cantonese.
Mandarin: Xin nian kuai le (Happy New Year)
Pronounced: Shin nian kuai le
Cantonese: Gong hei fat choy (Wishing you prosperity and good fortune)
Pronounced: Gong hey fat choi
Headmaster Ian Silk told us, “It has been a real treat to celebrate Chinese New Year as a whole school. The boys’ special assembly on this important holiday was a real highlight – it was, quite simply, brilliant! I hope that they enjoyed sharing their culture and traditions with us as much we enjoyed learning from them.”
