Lakeside School

Lakeside held its Lunar New Year Assembly on Feb. 1, a celebration of the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit. It was the sixth year of this annual event organized by the Chinese language program and joined by the Lakeside Asian and Pacific-Islander Students (LAPS) affinity group. It has become one of the most highly anticipated cultural events on the Lakeside assembly calendar.

The Lunar New Year is the first day of spring based on the lunar calendar. It has a long history spanning more than 3500 years and it is the most important cultural event and tradition in Chinese culture. From ancient China, traditions, and customs associated with the Lunar New Year spread throughout East and Southeast Asia. Many traditions are associated with the Lunar New Year; some of the most common ones include feasting with family, venerating ancestors, setting off firecrackers and fireworks, and wearing/displaying red. It is also a time of togetherness, joy, and renewal. 

Stemming from its many Asian-American communities, Lunar New Year traditions also have a strong presence across the United States, ranging from parades to lantern festivals. The city of Seattle hosted many such celebrations in its international district. Lakeside has a large presence of Asian-American students, faculty, and staff in our community. For them, Lunar New Year is a celebration of their heritage and identity and carries tremendous cultural importance.

As the Lunar New Year approaches each year, the students in the Lakeside Chinese program busy themselves with planning and practicing a variety of performances both as part of their cultural learning and to prepare for the Lunar New Year assembly, where the school community comes together to celebrate this important cultural tradition. This year, the students from different levels performed Chinese songs, dances, a double-sword martial arts routine, and a shuttlecock demonstration, and also shared a student-produced street interview video on Lunar New Year activities at Pier 62. Students from Chinese 5 MCed the programs. The LAPS affinity group shared a video interviewing Asian American students on campus sharing their personal stories of Lunar New Year celebrations, further highlighting the cultural importance of this occasion to our school community.

February’s assembly was the culmination of Lakeside’s efforts in celebrating and honoring the Lunar New Year.