Yiqiao Huang, Grade 11
UWCCSC
Chinese New Year is an important festival in Chinese culture because it is when families traditionally reunite during the lunar new year and celebrate the coming of a new year with many rituals, such as setting off fireworks, making dumplings, putting on couplets, and a big family dinner. We extend that to the school, also, because we want to keep a family atmosphere. And with the set of Chinese New Year activities that we have, I feel like there was a more authentic side to the Chinese New Year celebrations in the school than at home in cities, as there were restrictions on fireworks and certain activities.
The first memorable thing that I would mention is the Chinese Cultural Evening, CCE, similar to a TV program that plays before Chinese New Year’s Eve. We presented the more authentic child side of Chinese culture through music, dance, and other intangible cultural heritages, such as paper cutting and even more memorable, a modern style dance completed by Chinese students and foreign teachers. I performed my traditional instrument Guzheng with a band to welcome the new spring in the dawning of a new year. Before the performance, we took time to decorate each other's faces with careful strokes, as well as reinforce our costumes as we laugh backstage before getting on. These are fun insider moments that differ from being engulfed by the cheers of the crowd.
Another impressive event was a holistic dumpling-making experience. As making dumplings for Chinese New Year is more of a northern China tradition, I was surprised to hear that some of my friends from southern China experienced a little culture shock when they see how different people across the country celebrate the same festival differently. As I often made dumplings at home, I taught the technique to many of my friends who seemed less familiar with it. I love the feeling when the doughy, sticky wrapper is in my hand, and I put the mince inside. I enjoyed seeing the plate fill up with leftover wrappers, pieces of mints, and droplets of water.
When I stood beside the pot again and watched the dumplings boil with little pops of delight, I found a different meaning to Chinese New Year from celebrating it traditionally with my family. I was able to pass the skills and traditions of this region of China forward to guests of this region, regardless of nationality. I found an inexplicable mission and passion in spreading my culture forward. and when my friend's face turned from bewilderment to delight, I also discovered the joy in finding something new about diversity even within our own country.
The first memorable thing that I would mention is the Chinese Cultural Evening, CCE, similar to a TV program that plays before Chinese New Year’s Eve. We presented the more authentic child side of Chinese culture through music, dance, and other intangible cultural heritages, such as paper cutting and even more memorable, a modern style dance completed by Chinese students and foreign teachers. I performed my traditional instrument Guzheng with a band to welcome the new spring in the dawning of a new year. Before the performance, we took time to decorate each other's faces with careful strokes, as well as reinforce our costumes as we laugh backstage before getting on. These are fun insider moments that differ from being engulfed by the cheers of the crowd.
Another impressive event was a holistic dumpling-making experience. As making dumplings for Chinese New Year is more of a northern China tradition, I was surprised to hear that some of my friends from southern China experienced a little culture shock when they see how different people across the country celebrate the same festival differently. As I often made dumplings at home, I taught the technique to many of my friends who seemed less familiar with it. I love the feeling when the doughy, sticky wrapper is in my hand, and I put the mince inside. I enjoyed seeing the plate fill up with leftover wrappers, pieces of mints, and droplets of water.
When I stood beside the pot again and watched the dumplings boil with little pops of delight, I found a different meaning to Chinese New Year from celebrating it traditionally with my family. I was able to pass the skills and traditions of this region of China forward to guests of this region, regardless of nationality. I found an inexplicable mission and passion in spreading my culture forward. and when my friend's face turned from bewilderment to delight, I also discovered the joy in finding something new about diversity even within our own country.
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