Last Thursday, January 19, 2023, Westminster High School (WHS) celebrated the Lunar New Year during their fifth annual Tết Fair and Show, put on by their Vietnamese Language Program and Vietnamese American Culture Club (VACC).
The Lunar New Year, also known as Tết Nguyên Đán, is typically celebrated by many Asian countries. The celebrations are marked by lanterns, lion and traditional dancing, firecrackers, and the colors red and gold; young children receive red envelopes containing money, called lì xì.
At WHS, students from the school’s Vietnamese Language Program and VACC put together a Tết Fair and Show throughout the day to celebrate Lunar New Year. The club’s main purpose is to spread Vietnamese culture around the school and community, with the Tết Fair and Show being one of their biggest events. During the event, booths are set up around the quad by Vietnamese Language Program students, as well as students from other clubs, with games and activities that focus on various aspects of Vietnamese culture. Once lunch begins, the entire school gathers around to watch the VACC performers. Many members of the club participate in various dances, providing lively entertainment for the whole school to join in on Tết celebrations. These performances include a traditional co-ed dance to “Để Mị Nói Cho Mà Nghe", traditional Vietnamese drumming, and a fashion show containing both traditional and modern Vietnamese long dresses, known as the áo dài. Every year, the VACC invites teachers and staff to join them for a choreographed dance, which adds to the positive atmosphere of the celebration. The performances ended with the Lion Dance, a symbolic performance to ward off evil spirits at the beginning of the new year.
Senior VACC student, Kimmie Ho, shared, “This is my fourth and final year of being in VACC, and this will always be one of my favorite events that I look forward to every year. Lots of effort and time has been put in, but it is definitely worth it in the end when we get to perform for so many people in our community.”
“Being one of the Vietnamese World Language Teachers and Advisors of VACC,” explained Mai-Khanh Cong-Huyen, WHS teacher, “I observed students devoting countless hours to create an event that is so significant to our community and the best part is that they are able to share these cultural traditions and stories with their friends and staff throughout our campus. I am so lucky to be part of an amazing team at WHS.”
The Huntington Beach Union High School District is so proud of the Vietnamese American Culture Club at Westminster High School for celebrating and spreading knowledge of Vietnamese culture with their peers and WHS staff. Students throughout HBUHSD spend Lunar New Year with their families, partaking in similar celebrations.
More photos from the event can be found in HBUHSD’s Pixieset.