Both WMACS activities successfully attracted crowds, resulting in long lines at the scene
The Taiwan Trivia game was one of the highlights
The Arts & Crafts station supported by students from FASCA DC
The diabolo performance was showcased by students from NVAECS
The WMACS booth at Wheaton Mall was supported by volunteers from the WMACS summer camp
The finished artwork is a colorful, three-dimensional paper-cutting of "春" (Spring)
In celebration of Lunar New Year 2024 and to promote Mandarin education overseas, the Washington Metropolitan Association of Chinese Schools (WMACS) is supporting Lunar New Year celebrations on February 10th, 11th, and 17th at two Westfield shopping centers (Montgomery Mall and Wheaton Mall) in Montgomery County, Maryland. The series of celebration events is led by the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC). The opening ceremony, which attracted a large crowd and numerous guests, was held at the Westfield Montgomery Mall on February 10th.
Christina Poy and Sarah Prammawat from the Governor's Commission on Asian-Pacific American Affairs in Maryland brought a congratulatory commendation signed by Governor Wes Moore. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich also took the stage, greeting the audience with "新年快樂！大家好!" (Happy New Year! Hello, everyone!), and received enthusiastic applause from the crowd.
Montgomery County council members who came to join the celebration included Kristin Mink, Gabe Albornoz, Will Jawando, Marilyn Balcombe, Dawn Luedtke, and Laurie-Anne Sayles, as well as Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman, Deputy Councilman Jim McNulty, Councilwoman Lisa Henderson, Rockville City Councilman David Myles, and Maryland State Representative Joseph Vogel. They expressed their support for the Asian community and showed their cares for multiculturalism.
WMACS set up booths for cultural crafts and trivia games at the event. Two diabolo teams from WMACS summer camp and a member school, Northern Virginia Experimental Chinese School (NVAECS), also showcased in the cultural performances. Recognizing that the Lunar New Year is also known as the “Spring Festival”, the instructors of cultural crafts prepared colorful three-dimensional paper-cutting and calligraphy couplets. They hope that everyone can express their blessings for the Lunar New Year by cutting out or writing the character "春" (Spring) in Mandarin. The Taiwan Trivia game was creatively designed with interesting facts about Taiwan, and participants who answered correctly could receive a small prize. WMACS hopes to introduce its 18 local Chinese schools to the mainstream community, while promoting the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning (TCML), and the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) through the event.
This series of three Lunar New Year celebrations at Westfield shopping centers is not only a time of celebration but also a platform for cultural exchange. More importantly, it hopes that friends around the world will recognize Taiwan and Taiwan's delicious food, rich culture, and famous tourist attractions. Both activities successfully attracted crowds, with long lines at the scene, and participants were excited to experience the culture and enjoyed the festivities.
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