Students, teachers and staff at Haines Elementary, 247 W. 23rd Place, celebrated the first day of the Chinese New Year last month with two long-standing traditions: a lion dance and Chinese calligraphy.
Dressed in a costume consisting of a lion’s head and tail, two dancers accompanied by a drum and gong began in the school’s main office. They gave a red envelope to the principal, which is a symbol of good luck. From there, the lion was teased by a third dancer as they moved throughout the school. Together, the three performed a dance to scare away evil spirits and cleanse the building. Students lined the hallways to watch the dance.
Sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students also took part in Chinese calligraphy, writing good luck phrases for the New Year in Chinese characters on cards and placards.