The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach celebrated the 4,707th Chinese Lunar New Year on Thursday, February 11th, 2010.
This was the Club’s fourth annual celebration, where we bid farewell to the year of the Ox and welcomed the new year of the Tiger, a symbol of deep thinking, sensitivity and sympathy. The Chinese New Year Celebration has quickly become a favorite and much anticipated jubilation that members, staff, and parents all look forward to.
The festivities began the week before when members and staff diligently cleaned the Club, sweeping away the dirt and worries of the past year to welcome the New Year. Club members created paper lanterns, fans, and spring couplets to decorate the Club in preparation for the party.
The Front Counter was draped in red (to symbolize happiness) and gold (to symbolize wealth) and accentuated with Chinese caricatures for happiness, wealth, prosperity, and of course, the Tiger.
Upon entering the party, each member received a lucky red envelope, or Hong Bao, filled with lucky candies and a ticket which could be redeemed for a special Chinese treat. Members then were able to visit the various rooms to win Chinese sweets from playing carnival games, practice their chopstick skills, get their faces painted, make Chinese greeting cards and enjoy all the festive decorations.
As always, the most popular activity was the Chinese taste test table. A uniquely Chinese smorgasbord was displayed for members to taste, moon cakes, sugar cane, teriyaki seaweed, candies, cookies, tofu jerky, panda cakes, and most important, dragon eyeballs (lychee fruits) .
Join us next year, for the 4,708th Chinese Lunar New Year to welcome the year of the Rabbit.
Ashlyn Strahle
Branch Director
TLC Branch
Boys & Girls Clubs of
Laguna Beach
1470 Temple Terrace
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 494-7630
Fax (949) 494-3749
