Chinese New Year Celebration in Holmdel Rings in Year of the Horse

The Jersey Shore Chinese School celebrated its 35th anniversary along with the Year of the Horse during its Chinese New Year celebration earlier this month.

More than 500 people joined together at Holmdel High School (HHS) for the festival gathering. The traditional Chinese decorations included big red lanterns, the Chinese twelve zodiac, and JSCS students' Chinese calligraphy work, brush paintings, and craft.

The audience enjoyed performances of a Chinese orchestra, the double dragon dance, a magic show, a Chinese poetry reciting, the lion dance, Tai chi, self-defense, Chinese songs, Chinese dances, shadow puppet and Chinese yo-yo,

Monmouth County Freeholder Serena Demaso presented a certificate on behalf of the Board of Chosen Freeholders to JSCS Principal Cindy Chiang honoring the Year of Horse and recognizing JSCS's contribution to Chinese language and culture for the past 35 years.

After the performance, a banquet was served to attendants as the Q-band performed live music. One of the signature Chinese New Year dishes was the eight-treasure sweet rice, which was made by JSCS staff and parents. This dish symbolically brings blessing and treasure to those who eat it, according to a press release from the school.

Children enjoyed some carnival-style games after the banquet with prizes, including an iPad mini and red envelopes full of cash.