RICHARDSON, TX- February 1st marked the start of the Lunar New Year, also known as ‘Year of the Tiger’ according to the Chinese zodiac calendar. From fashion shows, singing, dancing, and plenty of artwork, ILTexas students went all out to celebrate the occasion.

Each campus within the charter held their own celebrations in honor of the new year, either through virtual or in-person events. The Confucius Classroom Coordination Office (CCCO) at ILTexas Global held their own virtual Lunar New Year event which featured performances from ILTexas students and Dallas-Fort Worth area schools. 

^{Audience members watch students perform a traditional Chinese dragon dance at the ILTexas Katy K-8 Lunar New Year celebration. Photo courtesy of Sheri Hawthorn.} 

^{Students at ILTexas Westpark K-8 perform traditional Chinese fan dance at their Lunar New Year celebration. Courtesy photo.} 

Often referred to as the ‘Chinese New Year’ or ‘Spring Festival,’ the Lunar New Year is observed by various East Asian countries, and is usually a time for families to come together to celebrate the arrival of spring. As part of the ILTexas mission, students learn to master the Chinese language, which involves fully immersing themselves in the culture of the language. 

Students performed traditional Chinese dragon dances, sang songs in Mandarin and created special artwork in honor of the occasion. Campuses decorated their hallways with Chinese lanterns and displayed historical facts about the holiday.  A symbol of good fortune, many students wore red during the events to celebrate Lunar New Year. 

Click the video above to see a recap of all the 2022 ILTexas Lunar New Year celebrations!