Students to experience cultural traditions, music and community celebration with South Jersey Lion Dance Troupe
Montgomery Elementary School will mark the start of the Lunar New Year with a special assembly on Thursday, featuring music, movement and hands-on cultural demonstrations.
The event, scheduled from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. in the school gymnasium, will welcome the South Jersey Lion Dance Troupe, which will introduce students to the traditions and cultural significance of lion dances in Lunar New Year celebrations.
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival in many cultures, begins this year on Feb. 10, 2026, ushering in the Year of the Horse, according to the Chinese zodiac. The holiday is celebrated across East and Southeast Asia and around the world, honoring family, luck, prosperity and new beginnings with symbolic rituals, festive foods, red decorations and traditional performances.
Lion dances are a hallmark of these celebrations; performers in vibrant lion costumes mimic the animal’s movements to bring good fortune and chase away negative energy.
At the Montgomery Elementary assembly, students will have the chance to take part in several interactive activities. Attendees can help “feed” lucky red envelopes to the lion, play traditional instruments including drums, gongs and cymbals, practice basic lion dance steps and learn simple drum rhythms.
The school’s Home and School Association will also host a staff appreciation segment during the event, sharing snacks and goodies that are said to bring longevity, fortune and luck in the new year. Many Lunar New Year treats — such as long noodles for long life, tangerines for wealth, and sweet rice balls for family togetherness — are rich with symbolic meaning tied to hopes for the year ahead.
Montgomery Elementary’s celebration aims to give students a joyful and educational experience, connecting classroom learning with real-world cultural traditions as communities around the world prepare to welcome the new lunar calendar year.
