Columbus Academy’s upper school Chinese students hosted their annual Lunar New Year assembly on Monday, January 27, featuring traditional performances and dances prepared by each Chinese class level.

The assembly began with a performance of a Lion Dance, in which two students mimicked a lion’s movements in a golden-white costume, complete with moving ears and blinking eyes, symbolizing good luck and fortune in the new year.

Following the performance, the projector screen lowered as a video created by the Chinese III classes began playing. It was an over-edited and humorous rendition of the South Korean Netflix hit Squid Game, in which students, each named after a Chinese zodiac animal, competed in red-light green-light, attempted to cut Chinese characters out of dalgona cookies made of cardboard, and performed tricks with a Chinese yoyo. Out of the initial 12 zodiac animals, the snake was the last one standing—an especially fitting outcome as 2025 marks the Year of the Snake. 

The leaders of Columbus Academy’s East Asian Affinity Club followed up with Lunar New Year trivia, providing students with opportunities to test both their knowledge and guessing skills for Asian jello cups. 

Then the Chinese II students began a martial-arts-inspired dance, usiing traditional Chinese handheld shan to punctuate their movements. The performance symbolized strength, agility, and balance, highlighting the cultural importance of martial arts in Chinese traditions. 

The Chinese IV students continued the line of dances with the famous “Little Apple,” encouraging students and faculty to rise up and dance along, providing one of the more interactive performances the assembly had in store.

Three Chinese I students demonstrated their skill by showcasing the Chinese yoyo, a traditional performance art that requires dexterity and coordination. The trio executed a series of impressive tricks, spinning, tossing, and catching the yoyo with precision, drawing cheers, gasps, and applause from the audience. 

Capping off the assembly, the Chinese V students performed a complex, choreographed dance that blended traditional and contemporary elements, symbolizing the fusion of past and present in modern Chinese culture. Their routine featured graceful fan movements, energetic footwork, and synchronized formations that captivated the audience.

Naturally, one may ask: “What exactly is the Lunar New Year? Why does it seem like it happens on random days each year?” When you try to compare the dates from lunar calendars, based on the phases of the moon, with the Gregorian calendar that we all know of, based on the position of the Earth around the sun, the dates don’t coincide, making them seem random. 

The lunar calendar had a significant impact on Chinese history, guiding both daily life and monumental events. It provided structure to agricultural practices, as the timing of planting and harvesting was closely tied to the moon’s cycles. Farmers relied on the lunar calendar to determine the best times to plant crops, ensuring their harvests coincide with favorable conditions. 

The lunar calendar also helped preserve cultural traditions by anchoring various festivals and holidays. The dates of these celebrations, which remain significant to this day, are determined by the lunar cycles. The most prominent of these is the Lunar New Year, which marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle and is a time for renewal, family reunions, and honoring ancestors. More examples include the Mid-Autumn Festival, held on the 15th day of the 8th month, the Dragon Boat Festival, which occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month, and the Lantern Festival, falling on the 15th day after the Lunar New Year.

The Lunar New Year assembly at Columbus Academy provided a vibrant celebration of Chinese culture, showcasing the hard work, creativity, and talent of students across all levels. From the mesmerizing Lion Dance to the engaging trivia and intricate performances, the event highlighted the richness of Lunar New Year traditions. Thank you to the Chinese classes for your hard work and preparation for this event, and happy year of the Snake!