Lunar New Year draws in good luck in Merrick

In the Merrick Union Free School District, it’s a Birch School tradition to embrace cultural holidays, and on Monday, students and staff rang in the New Year, by celebrating Lunar New Year in the halls of the school.

Lunar New Year celebrates the beginning of a new year, based on the lunar calendar. The event is celebrated by numerous cultures in various ways, and the most well-know celebrations include observations in several Asian countries. It’s best known in the U.S. as “Chinese New Year.”

This year, Chinese New Year fell on Feb. 10. Every year, the Chinese calendar determines an animal or creature to represent it on a Chinese zodiac. 2024 signifies the Year of the Dragon. Dragons have traditionally been associated with luck. When people think of Chinese New Year, they often think of the color red — which also is symbolic with luck. Money and presents are given and received in red envelopes, to ward off evil and bring in good health. A lion dance and dragon dance, as well as different types of cuisine, are also part of the holiday celebration.

And in the halls of Birch on Feb. 12, kindergartners decorated and wore face masks, as the principal, assistant principal and staff members wore a full silk drag mask and cape, and parade down the halls to virtual music — much to the excitement of everyone involved.