2024 CNY Celebrations

According to legend, there used to be an evil beast named Nian that would plunder villages, eating livestock, crops and even people at the start of the Lunar Calendar. After figuring out its fear of the colour red and loud noises, villagers would put up red decorations and light firecrackers, eventually chasing away the creature. Hence, this tradition evolved into the Chinese New Year we know today, a joyous festival where we reunite with our families, and usher in the coming year.

The spectator stands were abuzz with chatter as throngs of students from both the primary and secondary school eagerly assembled at the track for the Chinese New year Celebrations in school. Students from various CCAs had put in countless hours of preparation in order to showcase their talents to their 姐妹们. Tension rose in the air, as students anticipated the many festivities that would come. 

Soon, everyone came to a hush, as Father Eugene stepped onto the altar to start off the celebration with the New Year Mass. During the Homily, he encouraged everyone to let go of the stress and anxiety in the past year, along with renewing our faith and developing new aspirations for the New Year. Since this year was the year of the Dragon, he continued about how it symbolises strength, and how we could use this to pursue the greater good this year. 

Later, an award ceremony was held. Mrs Fiona Tan, the principal of the secondary school, had recognised the hard work of students in the past year by giving a speech. Several St Nicks Alumni students who have since progressed to Junior College had come back to St Nicks to receive their awards, such as the leadership, academic excellence and sports excellence awards. In addition, 校长婆婆, the past principal of St Nicks who warmly addresses the student body as “宝贝们”, had come back as she traditionally does every Chinese New Year. She commended the hard work of teachers and staff who helped to take care of the school, teaching us the importance of gratitude and continually instilling the value of 饮水思源 in St Nicks students. 

Not long after, the familiar pounding of drums and crashing of cymbals filled the air as colourful lion costumes bounded onto the track, much to the delightful roar of the crowd. Excited students sprinted down the stands, craning their necks in order to catch a glimpse of the exuberant lion dances performing below. 

After the performers left, our Secondary school Dance Club took the center stage with a lively rendition of the Kermusan dance. To celebrate the year of the Dragon, a vibrant display put up by the dragon dance crew brought shouts of elation from pupils as they watched the dancers masterfully twirling the dragon, forming a captivating spiral of colour with the puppet at the height of the performance. Next, a group of secondary 3 and 4 students put on a show not to be missed, enthralling the crowd with their dynamic dance moves, before handing it off to their counterparts from the primary section, who performed an elegant Chinese lantern dance. 

As the day drew to a close, the secondary Chinese Orchestra serenaded us with a classic Chinese New Year song, 大地回春, and a hit song of the artist Taylor Swift, You Belong With Me. The lyrics of both songs echoed throughout the stands, and soon, classes were dismissed one by one, as students headed to the track to take class photos of this memorable occasion. 

Overall, this Chinese New Year celebration was an unforgettable one and definitely reflects the collective St Nicks spirit of celebrating cultural events as one school, as well as sharing our well wishes with one another and reaping the fruits of our labour.