Welcoming the Year of the Snake
On Wednesday 12th February, Headington Rye Oxford welcomed members of its community to the School’s annual Lunar New Year celebration.
12th February is the 15th day of the first lunar month, a special occasion to celebrate the Chinese Lantern Festival. The festival marks the first full moon of the Lunar New Year and concludes the Chinese New Year period. This year the celebration welcomes the Year of the Snake, a symbol of intelligence and strategic thinking, with those born under this sign known for their wisdom, charm and strong intuition.
Pupils, parents and grandparents from the Prep and Senior Schools gathered together for a spectacular evening of cultural performances and festive food, celebrating the rich traditions of China, Hong Kong, and beyond.
Prep School pupils Emma (Year 5), Xiaoyan and Sophie (Year 4) opened the show with the Lion Dance, a high energy dance performed during Lunar New Year, said to bring good luck and fortune.
This was followed by a Chinese Choir, with pupils from Nursery to the Senior School, who sang ‘Gong X Gong X’, a popular song to celebrate the coming of Spring.
To conclude the entertainment, Sixth Form students Maya, Bridget, Yarrow and Ruth performed songs in Mandarin and Cantonese, showcasing their musical talents.
After the show, guests enjoyed a delicious Chinese feast prepared by Headington Rye’s in-house Catering team, which included a variety of traditional dishes.
An abundance of fortune cookies and red envelopes containing riddles and chocolate coins added the finishing touches to a special evening, and were appreciated by children and adults alike!
Dr Anne-Marie Stanton-Ife, Deputy Head Academic, said: “The evening was a great success, providing a wonderful opportunity for our whole community to come together to celebrate the Chinese Lantern Festival.”
