Kinderland promotes culturally inclusive classrooms and experiences including but not limited to social and religious diversity. This allow our children to explore and respect the different communities’ culture, heritage, traditions and ethnic backgrounds.
It is through daily interactions, observations and celebration of others’ cultural practices that Kinderland children can relate particular meaning to race, culture and other forms of diversity.
2021 is The Year of Ox. A very happy Chinese New Year from all of us at Kinderland to all our parents, children, family & friends!
Kinderland celebrates Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is one of the biggest and most significant annual festival for the Chinese across the world, even in Malaysia too. Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new year, often with the new moon.
Homes will be spring-cleaned and brightly decorated by family members. Offerings and prayers were made to ancestors. Not to mention, an abundance of food are prepared and new clothes are worn and adorn during this auspicious festive.
Giving red packets (or commonly known as ang pow), tossing Yu Sang, gathering for reunion dinner, watching lion dance are some gesture of blessings.
Giving out Ang Pows
Big smile behind the mask of our Kinderland children! Children are the most excited as they received the ang pow from adults, wearing red clothing during this celebration.
Ang pow or red packet are traditionally handed out by married couples to their parents, single adults and children during the Lunar New Year celebrations as a token of good fortune and well wishes.
Family Gathers for Reunion Dinner
Our Kinderland children with family during reunion dinner and it is a special bonding moment in celebration of the new cycle in the Lunar calendar.
The concept of a reunion dinner came about before the modern and affordable forms of transport were available. In the past, transportation was scarce and it was difficult for family members to return to their hometown more than once a year, as they all lived in different parts of China. Therefore, Lunar New Year was the time of the year when family members would make the journey home for a reunion. Over time, this has become a tradition for families to bond over the eve of Lunar New Year.
Watching Lion Dance
Lion dance performance by our children at Kinderland Ipoh. They were having such a great moment during Lunar New Year centre celebration.
Lion dance is synonymous with Lunar New Year celebration as the folktales spoke of the famous mythical creature called “Nian”, which is the modern day’s form of the lion mascot. “Nian” was said to be afraid of the colour red and loud sound and traditionally, houses would be decorated with red ornaments and firecrackers were lighted to chase “Nian” away. This symbolises chasing away bad omen for the new year ahead. Therefore, when someone watched lion dance performance, it is believed to bring good fortune.
At Kinderland, we embrace interculturalism, the sharing and learning across cultures that promotes understanding, equality, harmony, and justice in a diverse society.