Welcome back to school!
We have plenty to celebrate for the start of this year.
Celebrations are a part of all our lives and this summer there are two important events in our community.
Members of our Asian community celebrate a very important event on the lunar calendar - Chinese New Year - The Year of the Rooster.
Infograph of interesting facts
Don't forget this weekend is the Auckland Lantern Festival at the Auckland Domain.
Thursday 9 February (opening ceremony and lantern only night 7:00pm to 10:30pm) to Sunday 12 February.
About the Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival has been part of Chinese New Year celebrations since the Han Dynasty (206 BC- 221 AD).
It is usually held on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar, it marks the end of New Year festivities.
The holiday comes from an ancient Chinese belief that celestial (heavenly) spirits could be seen flying about in the light of the first full moon of the lunar calendar.
People used torches and lanterns of every shape, size and colour to help them in spotting the spirits.
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Room 2 Posters for Chinese New Year - There are many students at Sunnynook who identify as being Chinese - 新年快乐 Happy New Year to you!. |
New Zealanders celebrated Waitangi Day on 6th February with a national holiday to recognise our founding document - The Treaty of Waitangi.
The Treaty today
Te Tiriti ināianei
With the signing of the Treaty in 1840, Māori and Pākehā began the long journey towards creating a nation together.
Throughout this time, the Treaty has never lost its importance. And today, perhaps more than ever, it is helping to forge productive working relationships between Māori and other New Zealanders.
The journey continues – and it involves everyone living in this country.
Nō te hainatanga o te Tiriti 165 ngā tau ki mua, ka tīmata te Māori me te Pākehā ki te waihanga kaupapa haere whakamua hei whakakotahi i a rāua.
Puta noa tēnei wā, kīhai te mana o te Tiriti i memeha. Ināianei, he nui rawa atu te hiahia kia mahi kotahi te Māori me ērā atu iwi o Aotearoa hei painga mō te katoa.
Ka haere whakamua tonu, engari me uru mai te katoa o tēnei whenua.
I am really looking forward to the lantern festival at Albert Park this weekend. Mr Sole and I are going to go - so I will try and take some photos for this blog!! Very exciting.
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