On January 22, Delbarton students and their families came together to celebrate the Lunar New Year at a vibrant event organized by DAP and PCDI. The Lunar New Year holds significant cultural importance as it marks the beginning of the Chinese calendar with the emergence of the second new moon after the winter solstice on December 21. This cherished tradition is rooted in themes of hope, good fortune, and prosperity as it is observed across various East and Southeast Asian cultures, including the Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean communities, among others.

Each year, the Lunar New Year is symbolized by one of twelve zodiac animals within the cycle of twelve stations or 'signs'. This year is the year of the Wood Dragon.

The Delbarton celebration featured an authentic culinary spread, engaging student presentations, and lively decorations along with the newest edition to the program, a ping pong tournament.

Throughout the evening, attendees were treated to multiple performances, including performances by the talented Starry Art Group and Children’s Choir. The group has been collaborating with NJSO for the Lunar New Year celebration performance since 2019 and visited Delbarton's celebration to perform for our community.

Following the Starry Art Group and Children's Choir was Dr. Helen Chiu's captivating guzheng performance. The guzheng, a Chinese zither with 21-26 strings, produces melodic sounds by delicately plucking its strings.

A highlight of the event was the traveling dragon dance throughout the FAC performed by students, featuring a custom-built dragon that journeyed from China and was designed specifically for Delbarton. In Chinese culture, the dragon, known as Loong, symbolizes strength, health, and good luck, with the color green representing a bountiful harvest.

We thank our dedicated students and parents who shared a slice of their Asian culture and the joyous Lunar New Year celebration with the Delbarton community!