Enter the Dragon: SHS Celebrates Lunar New Year

If you're already sick of winter, you'll be happy to know that the recent Chinese Lunar New Year marked the beginning of "lichun," the first solar term in their calendar year signifying the beginning of spring. 

Check out some pictures of Scarsdale High School students participating in several festive activities in Wenhui (Phoebe) Gu's Mandarin class. The group studied the 12-year animal cycle, noting that 2012 is the year of the dragon, and wrote their own endings for a dragon-slaying story before performing the tale using props including a piece of red paper, a red scarf and a cane.

After vanquishing the fiery foe, students chose their favorite good luck phrases and wrote them in calligraphy (a Chinese invention dating back to the Shang Dynasty!) on red paper before learning standard celebratory Mandarin phrases.