The room fell quiet for a moment as a new sound filled the air.
“Mǎ dào chéng gōng,” Anita Huang said slowly, writing four elegant Chinese characters on the board. Dozens of curious eyes followed every stroke. A few seconds later, the room burst into joyful attempts to repeat the phrase—some careful, some enthusiastic, all accompanied by giggles.
This was how our Chinese New Year celebration began.
On February 24th, our school took a pause from the ordinary for something a little special. Students from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade came together to celebrate Chinese New Year.
Our guide for the day was Anita Huang, mom of Ian from 2nd Grade Starfish, who generously said yes when we asked her to share a piece of her culture with us. With the warmth of someone telling a story they know by heart, Anita introduced the children to the spirit of the New Year.
If there was one thing that defined the day, it was the curiosity in the room.
Anita walked the children through one of the most fascinating aspects of the Chinese language: the chéngyǔ (成语), four-character expressions that carry centuries of folk wisdom in just a handful of strokes. The one she taught was 马到成功 (mǎ dào chéng gōng), which literally means “success arrives when the horse arrives”, an immediate wish for good fortune and brilliant results. The children tried to repeat it out loud, with that wonderful mix of focus and barely-contained laughter that comes when kids tackle something genuinely new.
After discovering new words, we moved on to a creative activity that kept the children engaged throughout the entire day: the 中国百福图 (Zhōngguó Bǎi Fú Tú), or “Hundred Blessings Chart.” At the heart of it was the character 福 (fú), which means happiness, fortune, and prosperity, and is one of the most beloved symbols in Chinese culture, especially during the New Year.
From morning to the final bell, the children explored the countless artistic forms this single character has taken over the centuries, each adding their own interpretation to the growing collection. The results were, as children’s work so often is, genuinely beautiful.
It was a full day, full of color, new words, questions, and laughter.
A heartfelt 马到成功 — may success arrive quickly — to everyone! 🐎✨
