On January 23, Delbarton students and families celebrated the Lunar New Year at a colorful and delicious event hosted by Diversity Among Peers (DAP) and the Asian Culture Club.

The Lunar New Year is the most important date on the Chinese calendar as it starts with the rise of the second new moon after the December 21 winter solstice. This traditional celebration centers around hope, good fortune and prosperity. It is shared by East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean communities among others. Each year the event is represented by one of twelve zodiac animals included in the cycle of 12 stations or 'signs'. 2023 is the year of the rabbit. The last year of the rabbit was in 2011!

The Delbarton celebration featured authentic food, student presentations and vibrant decorations. There were multiple performances throughout the night where guests got to experience traditional music, WuShu martial arts and Delbarton students put on a dragon dance with a large dragon generously lent to the Green Wave by Kent Place. In Chinese culture, the dragon -- known as Loong -- represents strength, health and good luck, and the color green represents a great harvest.

Thank you to the students, parents and friends who worked hard to share their Asian culture and the Lunar New Year celebration with the Delbarton community! Enjoy our favorite photos below...