Lunar New Year is a holiday celebrated around the world, and at RUHS it is no different. This year the Chinese National Honor Society arranged a Lion Dance performance for the students and staff. Vice President of the Chinese Honor Society, senior Enzo Lim, and his fellow members worked hard to bring the celebration to life, taking a variety of aspects into account.
“A lot of our job is helping out Ms. Wong,” Lim said. “We are in charge of coordinating with our classmates, asking for help to set up goodie bags, setting up stations, giving ideas on what would be fun and whether or not we should have [events] like this.”
The performance was full of bright colors, tassels, and music, with interactions between the Dragons and the crowd. Many dancers were given red envelopes during the dance, adding to the festive atmosphere. Freshman Aaliyah Legaspi was one of the onlookers during the performance and enjoyed the celebration.
“It was a nice display of Chinese Culture. It’s great that [our school] is trying to incorporate it into the Redondo Union community,” Legaspi said. “[I] found it fun, and it was a nice gesture for the people, showing Chinese culture as entertainment. I appreciated it.”
While the Lion Dance is performed for entertainment during the Lunar New Year, it is seen by many as a symbol of a fresh start for the upcoming year.
“Lion dancing represents a display of fortune and strength because that’s what lions are. They’re prideful and [the dance] is also used to ward off evil spirits,” Lim said.
In the past, the Chinese Honor Society did not hold the Lion Dance for the Lunar New Year, but this year, due to donations, the club was able to fund the performance successfully. This year was special to Lim because he was able to share the moment with other classmates.
“It was exciting and it brought me back home because I’m from Singapore, and usually we never really get to celebrate Chinese New Year because it’s just me, my sister, my mom and dad,” Lim said.
Lim recollects that with his extended family so far away, he opted to bring the spirit of the Lunar New Year to the Redondo Union community. The Chinese Honor Society aims to let people enjoy and explore the traditions and other parts of Chinese culture, whether they’re Chinese or not.
“It’s less traditional here, so we [celebrate] in more of an American way, and we have less traditional Chinese food,” Lim said.
“[It’s] on a much smaller scale here than in Asian countries, because in Asia we go to all of our relative’s houses, celebrate, and it goes on for days.”
While the festival activities may not be as grand, Lim still appreciates the smaller efforts that go towards celebrating the Lunar New Year, amongst family and friends. Although the festivities take time and effort, Lim is grateful that he was able to support his club in the efforts to recreate the rituals of the Lunar New Year. He hopes in the coming years they can continue to perform this event for the RUHS community.
“It’s a big cost and a lot of work. Me, my sister and all the NCHS (National Chinese Honor Society) members had days of hours of work,” Lim said. “It’s a time commitment, but I think what we brought here was really valuable. It was worth it. We made that sacrifice and Miss Wong made that sacrifice.”
Sophomore Ewa Lim, a member of the Chinese Honor Society, and sister of Enzo Lim, shares her brother’s sentiment, enjoying the Lunar New Year and its many activities. After the Club’s hard work toward the event, Lim was able to see the celebrations and found that being able to participate in the activities herself and with friends was both rewarding and refreshing.
“The dancers make sure [the Lion dance] is interactive with the students,” Lim said. “I was glad to see other people enjoying it, because I don’t know how other people who don’t celebrate Chinese New Year would react, but [their reactions] always seemed positive.”
The Lion Dance is only a small part of the Lunar New Year holiday, and Lim hopes to be able to carry the tradition of the Lion Dance at RUHS into future celebrations.
“It’s a really fun time celebrating the community, [and] it’s a break from the academic stress. It’s a relaxing day, all games and eating,” Lim said. “It was the most fun activity I’ve ever had in school, and without [the celebration] it wouldn’t be the same.”