Lanterns light up Holy Family
Schools
When Holy Family Catholic School held its annual Mid-Autumn Festival in September, students created colourful moon lanterns symbolising its diverse culture and community.
The festival draws inspiration from Vietnam and China where children hold lanterns and run around the neighborhood for a ‘lantern parade under the moon’.
“At Holy Family, the tradition continues, with each child dedicating much time, planning, and meticulousness to creating colorful, creative lanterns,” said Jake Winters, assistant principal – Inclusion at the Parafield Gardens R-6 school.
“Children use their creativity and resourcefulness with materials such as paper, cloth, bamboo, candles, wood and bright lights, each with different meanings.”
In Vietnam, the Mid-Autumn Festival is associated with beautiful childhood memories.
“We believe we are creating similar memories for the entire Holy Family community through this yearly event.”
Bella with principal Kerry White
The festival is a group effort. Principal Kerry White and volunteers assist in the lead-up. Mr White visits classes to individually talk with children about their lanterns and the meaning and languages behind them.
“The 500-plus unique lanterns are then carefully hung in our hall for the Mid-Autumn Festival,” Mr Winters said.
“The delight on the children’s faces when they walk into the hall for the assembly for the first time is priceless.”
The Mid-Autumn Festival assembly features a traditional Vietnamese dance incorporating children of all cultures and concludes with a traditional lion dance.
“All cultures are celebrated regularly and organically at Holy Family, evident in children being invited to wear clothes from their culture during the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration,” said Hong Nguyen, ESO and Vietnamese Community Liaison.
“The Holy Family community is extremely proud of our rich diversity and celebrates it at every opportunity. This includes a large group of children of various ages and parent volunteers currently hard at work practicing an African dance to perform at the community Spring Fair.”
Vietnamese dancers were part of the Salisbury Council Harmony Day performances and in November, the school celebrates Diwali.
“Our school ‘Diwali Hub’ is a central point for classes to participate in Diwali educational and celebrational activities,” said EALD coordinator Emma Finos.
“Through celebrating all cultures, we aim to create inclusiveness and foster positive emotions and valuable memories for the whole community. This year, the winners from our Harmony Day competition were taken on an excursion to the central market to investigate and try foods from various cultures.”
