Levy Lakeside students ring in Chinese New Year

Third grade students at Levy Lakeside School in Merrick shouted “Gung hay fat choy!” as they marched through the halls on Jan. 27 to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Some lifted giant dragon costumes as others held hand-painted posters and masks. The phrase means, “May you become prosperous,” when translated from Chinese to English and is shouted as part of the many traditions incorporated into the school’s annual celebration.

The parade began 15 years ago when former third grade Social Studies teacher Brian Aplustille introduced the arts into the course’s curriculum. Every year, third-grade students would learn about the significance of the Chinese New Year in their Social Studies classes. Aplustille started the tradition of bringing in arts supplies so that students could craft their own life-size dragon costumes, posters and masks. They then march with these creations in a parade for the entire school to watch. “It’s part of our culture here,” said third grade Social Studies teacher Jenn Gargan.

Before the parade, the third grade students explained its traditions and elements to the rest of the school in an announcement over the PA system. Elements featured included fish, which signify abundance, the color red, symbolizing happiness, and the dragon, which is used as a form of rain dance in Chinese ritual. The holiday celebrates the New Year in the Lunar Calendar and the end of the harvest in China, which is why the dragon is used to bring rain and help the crops grow. Each year in the Chinese Zodiac cycle is represented by an animal. The year is the Year of the Rooster, which is the tenth in the 12-year cycle.