Xin Nian Kuai Le! (Happy New Year!)

On the Sunday before Chinese New Year, we all gathered at the Vernon Center on the Trinity College campus in Hartford to celebrate the coming of the Year of the Tiger. Dragons danced, children sang and danced, costumes were modeled, and poetry was recited. And we all ate and played games.

Of course, Jonna & Joelle took the stage with their respective Chinese Language Classes to perform for the hundred or so people gathered.

Joelle's pre-K class performed "Two Tigers" in honor of the Year of the Tiger. (That's Joelle on the far left with Dad.) The song tells the story of a tiger who has his ears but can't find his tail and doesn't know where it went. That was followed by the "Little Lion Dance."

Jonna's 1st Grade Class counted Red Envelopes (hong bo), which grown-ups traditionally fill with money and give to their children for good luck. Jonna and her partner, Gianna, had the number two.