Earlier this month, Waingels welcomed Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, which this year fell on February 1.
It marks the first new moon on the traditional lunisolar and solar Chinese calendar and is celebrated all over China and across many countries in East and South-East Asia.
Indeed, Chinese New Year is celebrated by many people around the world due to its significance in marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring… including here at Waingels.
Each new year is associated with one of the 12 Chinese Zodiacs; 2022 invites the year of the Water Tiger. Elucidating, the Tiger manifests a year of prosperity due to its glowing signs of inspiring strength, purifying evils to radiate good, and sparking courage.
To celebrate the new year at Waingels, our school was swathed with lanterns of crimson, resembling the lotus-coloured incense sticks of Quảng Phú Cầu in Vietnam.
In light of the new year, the Student Council and Equality Student Voice group launched a door decorating competition, evoking a sense of pride for the diversity that our community so impressively encapsulates. Our students creatively used red ribbons and hand-made lanterns covered in Chinese lettering, but ultimately it was a tough decision and we decided to award 20 tutor groups fortune cookies and certificates for their excellent participation- well done to everyone!
Moreover, a specially devised traditional Chinese menu was also served in the canteen including spring rolls, egg fried rice and noodle dishes to name a few. Our peers had a fantastic time immersing themselves in the traditions of the new year.
From red shoe laces to scarves, red socks to hair scrunchies, it was wonderful to see students and staff brightening up their uniforms by wearing a ‘splash of red’ on Friday 4th February to commemorate the week!
Eian in Year 7, had blissfully recalled how walking into school awakened bittersweet memories of ‘going to school in Hong Kong, it felt like I was back home’. Vincy, Year 12 felt that it was ‘progressive to celebrate and include tradition that (is) from (my) ethnic origin.’ She shared that traditionally, the celebrations would call for ‘having dinner as a family and handing envelopes to each other. Cleaning the house and showering the day before is important so you don’t wash away the good luck for the new year.’ 新年好 ! Happy New Year Everyone!
In addition to thanking all students and staff that took part in the door decorating competition, Miss English would like to say a special thank you to all of the students who helped decorate the school, including the Site Team, members of the Head Team, the School Council, the Equality Group, the Crafty Club, and many others!
Arysha – Year 12 Waingels Student
