CHILDREN from Pre-Prep 2 joined in with exciting celebrations for Chinese New Year recently.

The class began by listening to the enchanting story behind the famous Willow pattern, which appears on Chinese ceramics — the two doves flying high in the blue moonlit sky symbolising Koong-She and Chang.

The children went on to create their own Willow pattern plates, including many of the images they had seen in the book.

Next, the classroom was awash with red as the children each painted a flag of China, learning how highly regarded the colour red is to the Chinese nation, representing as it does both power and prosperity.

Later the class designed their own dragons, with Mandarin numbers from one to ten written along their bodies.

They then heard the story of the 12 animals that represent each year of the Chinese Zodiac.

It is believed that the order originates from the story of a race across the river to the Emperor. We are now in the year of the monkey.

As is the tradition, the children gave each other gifts of a red money envelope containing chocolate.

The climax of the day was a traditional Chinese banquet with noodles, prawn crackers, soy sauce, all eaten, of course, with chopsticks.

There was plenty of giggling as the children endeavoured to master the skill and this proved to be a fitting end to the celebrations.