2024 Taiwan Fun at the Oakton Library
Kids love making dragon-head lanterns
To celebrate the Year of the Dragon, Taiwan Fun hosted a cultural fair at the Oakton Library as a unique initiative, showcasing various aspects of the traditional Taiwanese Lunar New Year. The event aimed to provide a rich cultural experience for the children of Northern Virginia. The event was supported by many local students from FASCA-DC, the Millennial Global Youth (MGY) Foundation, and mainstream high school students in Virginia, who volunteered at the booths to promote Taiwanese New Year activities and culture.
The booths, filled with authentic Taiwanese flavor and attracted a large crowd. The "snatching the first incense" activity was the most popular among them. Participants wrote their wishes on bamboo sticks, inserted them into an incense burner, and prayed for their New Year blessings and expectations to come true. The traditional Taiwanese game of "tossing the wooden sticks" , a New Year's must-have, was also a crowd favorite, ushering in the New Year with laughter.
Another highlight of the event was calligraphy. Participants had the chance to experience the charm of calligraphy firsthand by writing New Year blessings in unique fonts and showcasing their artistic flair. Other activities that contributed to the joyful atmosphere included dragon-head lanterns, various Lunar New Year bingo games, keychains featuring dragons from American cartoons, handmade red envelopes, and colorful lantern painting.
This event not only enriched local residents' impression of the traditional Taiwanese Lunar New Year but also deepened cross-cultural exchange. There is anticipation for more such events in the future which will enable more people to recognize and appreciate the diverse charm of Taiwan, marking a new chapter in the promotion of Taiwanese culture in Northern Virginia.
more OCAC News, welcome to
OCACNEWS.NET.
