Celebrating the Chinese Spring Festival/Lunar New Year at Chatham Hall

This annual Lunar New Year celebration, cherished by many cultures across East, South, and Southeast Asia, is a time for reflection on the past year and hopeful anticipation of the coming year.

The New Year Chapel Service featured a rich tapestry of performance, prayers, and stories that honored the traditions of the Spring Festival. The gathering opened with the poetic "寒辞去冬雪, 暖带入春风" ("The cold winter snow melts away out of sight, the warm palace bathed in spring wind right"), setting the tone for an event that blended beauty and introspection.

Highlights of the celebration included a moving zither performance by Aria D. ’27, who played the Guzheng, a traditional Chinese plucked-string instrument with a 2,500-year history. The program also featured stirring musical performances such as the "Spring Festival Overture" and the hymn "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," alongside student reflections, poetry recitations, and prayers for peace, gratitude, and community.

Special thanks go to the International Student Association (ISA) for their thoughtful leadership and dedication to creating an atmosphere of warmth and cultural appreciation. Guided by Ms. Mara Jarrett, ISA members and student leaders brought this celebration to life. The program also included videos celebrating the global traditions of the Lunar New Year, designed and coordinated by our students.

With reflections of kindness and a call for peace, the service concluded with the hymn "Go Tell It on the Mountain," leaving everyone inspired to carry the spirit of the Spring Festival into their daily lives. As community members recessed, everyone received chocolate or stickers in celebration of the holiday. 

A heartfelt thank you to all who contributed to this beautiful celebration, and may the Year of the Snake bring wisdom, resilience, and prosperity to all!

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