Home | News & Galleries | Earlscliffe Students | Earlscliffe students celebrate the Lunar New Year with community workshop

Earlscliffe students celebrate the Lunar New Year with community workshop

Posted: 14th February 2024

Earlscliffe students celebrated the Lunar New Year by hosting a special community workshop near the beautiful Old High Street in the centre of Folkestone.

Eight of our international students worked with Mrs Wang to organise and host this vibrant event. They not only led the workshop activities throughout the day but also encouraged members of the public to join the event by handing out flyers in the local area.

The Lunar New Year embodies profound cultural traditions with roots extending across centuries. Signifying the traditional commencement of the agricultural season, it prompts households to engage in thorough cleaning of unwanted items, followed by decorating with red couplets and lanterns. In recognition of this tradition, Earlscliffe adorned the Main Building in a similar style.

Categories: Earlscliffe Students General News

The Earlscliffe Lunar New Year workshop provided a platform to learn, create, and celebrate.

One of the highlights of the workshop was the hands-on activities that allowed participants to immerse themselves in Lunar New Year traditions. From paper cutting, to learning the art of Chinese calligraphy, to exploring zodiac signs, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Guests were also invited to learn their fortunes for the year of the dragon and were given fortune cookies to take away. They enjoyed a little bit of fun with a special Earlscliffe challenge where they competed against one another to pick up jellybeans with chopsticks.

Earlscliffe prides itself on giving students the opportunity to exchange cultural traditions, beliefs and activities. People from diverse backgrounds come together throughout the year to celebrate diversity and deepen their understanding of different international backgrounds. This Lunar New Year workshop was the first of such school activities that also gave the local residents of Folkestone the chance to explore and foster a deeper understanding of key events from different countries. By immersing ourselves in different cultural practices, traditions, and belief systems, we gain valuable insights into the various experiences of people around the globe. This exploration not only broadens our horizons but also challenges our assumptions and biases, encouraging us to question preconceived notions and embrace diversity.