"Look! This is my handmade spinning snake lantern!" "These dumplings are so delicious, and they bring good luck and wealth—how wonderful…..!"
On January 28th, the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center was invited to assist in a fun and festive cultural exchange event at Honda Center, filled with the flavors and spirit of the Lunar New Year.
Through the yangqin music, tasty dumplings, and DIY spinning snake lanterns, this multi-sensory cultural experience—engaging all five senses—left a lasting impression on the 75 Honda Center employees, introducing them to AAPI New Year customs.
Last year, Yulan Chung, CEO of SCCCC, and team members invited by Honda Center to introduce AAPI New Year customs. Employees also tried paper-cutting dragons, leaving a lasting impression.
This year, SCCCC was invited again. With 75 employees signing up, Honda Center arranged for dumplings from Din Tai Fung, while SCCCC provided DIY spinning snake lantern kits and a yangqin performance.
Yulan Chung introduced Lunar New Year customs, and the celebration includes traditions like dragon dances, eating dumplings, and receiving red envelopes.
In honor of the Year of the Snake, each employee received a DIY spinning snake lantern kit. With help from the team, everyone made their lanterns, proudly showing them off once completed.
To reward the employees, Honda Center served dumplings from Din Tai Fung. As dumplings symbolize wealth, everyone enjoyed both the dumplings and their lanterns.
The event concluded with a group photo of everyone holding their handmade lanterns, marking a perfect end to the cultural exchange.
“你瞧！這是我親手製作的旋轉蛇燈籠！” “水餃真好吃，又能帶來好運和財富，太美好了！......”
南海岸中華文化中心1/28和Honda Center 有一場饒富趣味與年味的文化交流。
藉由聆聽揚琴、品嚐美味餃子和動手作旋轉蛇燈籠，這場結合聽覺、觸覺、視覺、味覺和嗅覺等「五感」的文化饗宴，讓 Honda Center 中心75名員工，對AAPI的農曆新年習俗，留下深刻印象。
去年在OC Honda Center 邀請下，南海岸中華文化中心執行長鍾幼蘭和同事為該中心數十名員工介紹AAPI的新年習俗與文化，同時也讓員工自己剪紙龍，這場生動活潑的文化交流活動，讓 參加活動員工，對中華文化留下深刻印象。
今年南海岸中華文化中心再度受邀，由於Honda Center登記參與這場文化交流活動員工多達75名，該中心負責購買鼎泰豐餃子來當樣品並犒賞員工，南海岸中華文化中心準備旋轉蛇燈籠DIY包和揚琴，一場結合「五感」的文化饗宴，在OC Honda Center 會議室熱鬧登場。
南海岸中華文化中心執行長鍾幼蘭首先介紹中心成立宗旨、所屬南海岸中華樂團、南加舞團、鼓隊與中華武術隊等文化展演團隊，隨即切入這場文化交流主題--農曆新年。
鍾幼蘭表示，農曆新年對AAPI住民來說，意義重大，它不僅象徵團圓，更是迎新開始。而農曆新年，有舞龍、舞獅、吃水餃、拿紅包等豐富慶典與文化習俗。
今年是蛇年，為應景並增加交流活動趣味性，文化中心特別為每位員工準備一份旋轉蛇燈籠DIY包，在文化中心同人協助下，每位員工都聚精會神自己動手作起蛇燈籠，隨著成品陸續完成，每人都開心地高舉燈籠，向鄰座同事展現。
為犒賞員工，Honda Center也特別向知名鼎泰豐訂購水餃供員工享用，因稍早在農曆新年風俗文化介紹中，曾提到水餃形如元寶，吃水餃象徵會帶來財富，大家除互相展示各自製作的旋轉蛇燈籠，也開心的在座位上品嚐享用水餃。
南海岸中華樂團成員之一的蔡伊菁也在現場用揚琴為大家敲奏應景的新年樂曲，讓每位參與者都享受了一場豐富的文化盛宴。最後大家拿起自己DIY的蛇燈籠共同拍下大合照，也為這場文化饗宴，劃下完美句點！
