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On February 14, 2026, Montreal was in the midst of a snowy season, yet inside the classroom of the Tzu Chi Academy, the atmosphere was bustling with excitement and joy.
This day marked not only Valentine’s Day but also the eve of the Lunar New Year of the Golden Horse. On this day filled with love and anticipation, the school specially organized the “Golden Horse Welcomes Spring: Campus Fun Fair.” This event allowed parents, teachers, and students to temporarily set aside their busy schoolwork and jobs. Hand in hand, they stepped into a cultural feast that blended dynamic fun with serene humanistic culture, experiencing the warm atmosphere of holiday reunion ahead of time.
Hearts and Hands Connected, Good Luck “Sticks” Together
“Sticky Good Luck!”
“Stick where?”
“Heart sticks to heart!”
As the event kicked off, the classroom filled with tender, excited shouts. To warm up the parents and children who had just arrived from the cold winter outdoors, the school designed the “Sticky Good Luck” rhythm game. Accompanied by upbeat festive music, families transformed into round balls of glutinous rice dough. When the commands were given, adults who were initially a bit reserved instantly turned into big kids.
Some fathers crouched low, pressing their cheeks tight against their children’s; some mothers stood back-to-back with their kids, laughing uncontrollably. In this moment, there was no distance between generations, only the warmth of relying on one another. At the final command of “Heart sticks to heart,” all the parents and children embraced tightly. This hug was not only the most beautiful Valentine’s Day gift but also the key to unlocking the warmth of the day’s activities.
Spreading Blessings through Ink: The Golden Horse Year at the Tip of a Brush
With bodies and minds warmed up, the group gently moved to the tea ceremony area. The long tables were covered with red paper and calligraphy brushes, and the faint scent of ink instantly calmed everyone’s minds.
Preparing to welcome the vibrant “Bing Wu Year of Horse,” the teacher used this theme to guide the children in observing the structure of the character for “Horse” (馬)—the soaring strokes resembling a horse’s mane, and the steady dots like galloping hooves. Accompanied by volunteers and parents, the children grasped the brush pens, splashing ink onto the red diamond-shaped paper squares stroke by stroke.
Although the children’s strokes were tender, their expressions of total concentration made it seem as though the seeds of cultural heritage were quietly sprouting in their hearts. Between the red paper and black ink, what was being passed down was not just the art of calligraphy, but the admiration and longing for Chinese culture held by those living overseas. As the paper squares written with “Spring,” “Blessing,” and “Horse” were laid out to dry by the table, it felt as if bountiful blessings were slowly settling through time.
A Test of Chemistry: Family Fun Fills the Room with Laughter
As the program alternated between calm and lively, the joyful scene returned to the classroom. To help the children more deeply remember the tradition of the Twelve Zodiac Animals, a lively “Zodiac Chemistry Challenge” took the stage.
Parents, who usually appear somewhat reserved in public, now threw off their inhibitions and used every trick in the book to help their children guess the answers correctly. A parent who drew “Monkey” scratched their head and jumped around nimbly, while a father who drew “Horse” put in a great effort to mimic the sound of hooves and a galloping posture, his amusing antics causing the whole room to erupt in laughter.
The children watched their parents’ performances intently before rushing to the picture cards on the floor to answer. This was not just a game, but a vivid cultural lesson, allowing the stories of the zodiac to be deeply imprinted in the children’s minds amidst laughter.
A Taste of the New Year; Spinning Good Fortune
As the event neared its end, the tea ceremony area was transformed into a festive display of traditional New Year foods. The volunteer team had thoughtfully prepared a variety of seasonal dishes, guiding the children to understand the auspicious meanings behind each one.
In addition to apples symbolizing “peace and safety” and mandarin oranges representing “great luck and prosperity”, there were also rice cakes representing “rising higher step by step”, radish cakes for “good omens,” and dumplings shaped like gold ingots symbolizing “ushering in wealth and treasure”. Before tasting these delicious treats, the children had to pass a small challenge—saying the corresponding auspicious phrase for that dish to the volunteers.
When the children loudly shouted “Rising higher step by step!” and “Ushering in wealth and treasure!”, the scene was filled with laughter and blessings. They took the meaning of this traditional culture into their hearts along with the delicious food.
Meanwhile, at the back of the classroom, several diabolos (Chinese yoyos) were flying in the air. This was the traditional toy experience area. Under the guidance of teachers and volunteers, the children tried to get the diabolos spinning, symbolizing “turning the universe around” and keeping good luck rolling in for the new year.
Heartwarming Feedback from Parents: Love Spreads in the Snowy Land
Amidst the soft and festive New Year background music, a volunteer dressed as the God of Wealth made a surprise appearance, creating a warm and enthusiastic atmosphere. The children lined up in order, stepped forward with anticipation to bow and pay respects to the God of Wealth, said their prepared auspicious phrases, and received red envelopes from his hands, their faces beaming with satisfied smiles.
At the event, parent Yi-Ching Lien gave heartwarming feedback specifically to Principal Elaine Lu, praising the team’s attentiveness: “Thank you all. You put so much heart into every event, and you take care of so many details.”
After the event, the parents’ group chat was flooded with touching messages. Parent Yuan-Chen Tsai happily shared: “It was truly delicious and fun. It really made us feel the New Year spirit. Thank you to the principal, teacher, and volunteer dads and moms.”
Even parent Eva, who could not attend in person, felt the joy: “Thank you for today’s event. Although I couldn’t participate, Hong-Ning (and his dad) both said they were very happy!”
The most gratifying part was hearing the children’s genuine love for the event. Parent Yu-Ling Fu mentioned: “Thank you for your dedication. Both my kids came back so happy, saying it was so much fun and that Chinese class is their favorite!”
From a single cultural seed to taking root in this northern land, the Tzu Chi Academy in Montreal allowed children to personally experience the excitement of the New Year and the serenity of calligraphy through the balance of “movement” and “stillness” in this New Year event. This memory will accompany them as they grow, galloping like a golden horse into a hopeful new year.