Children’s own Dragon and Lion dances usher in the Lunar New Year at NurtureStars

To help usher the Lunar New Year the children at NurtureStars Preschool at Mount Faber put up a Dragon Dance while those at the Toa Payoh centre performed the Lion Dance. And like the children at the five other centres in Choa Chu Kang, Jurong, Punggol, Tampines and Yishun, they happily celebrated the Year of the Dragon in early February with their parents.

They arrived at the centres in the morning dressed in their new year best with Mandarin oranges in hand to “pai nien” (greet) and wish the very best for their teachers and their fellow classmates. “Gong Xi Fa Cai” rang out loud in every class.

For the benefit of their non-Chinese friends, the teachers shared with them about the traditions and customs that are typically practised during the Lunar New Year. This helped them to better understand and participate in the festivity.

There was a lot of joy and energy in the classrooms as every child merrily took part in the various activities organised for them by each centre. They sang and danced to festive songs, made the traditional “jiao zi” (Chinese meat dumplings) and ate goodies such as love letters and pineapple tarts. Some even had “nien kao” (sticky sweet cake) that is usually eaten only during the Lunar New Year.

It was probably the noisiest celebration for those at the Mount Faber and Toa Payoh centres, as the boom of the drums and clash of cymbals reverberated through the centre premises into the neighbourhood. What a happy occasion for all.