Best of the Week 2022-2023: Holy Cross Values

ST. ED'S CELEBRATES THE LUNAR NEW YEAR & THE SYMBOLISM BEHIND THE "YEAR OF THE RABBIT"

Educating students about diverse cultures through intentional engagement is at the core of St. Ed's AAPID, an affinity group for students who identify as Asian-American, Pacific Islander and/or Indian/Pakistani and for students interested in learning more about their cultures. To commemorate and honor the first day of the Chinese calendar, St. Ed's AAPID decorated the Kahl Center Atrium with Chinese lanterns and lights of red and gold to symbolize prosperity for the coming year. To get the entire community involved, Advisory groups and moderators were encouraged to participate in a "Year of the Rabbit" scavenger hunt, quizzing students on Chinese Lunar New Year trivia and traditions and connecting the answers to symbols found throughout the school. Students had to then find red envelopes, traditionally used in the Chinese culture to give gifts, to lead them to the ultimate prize.

While 2022's Year of the Tiger symbolized positive, active energy, this year's Year of the Rabbit embodies an energy rooted in relaxation, gentility and hope, with a focus on building new relationships. Tying in how Edsmen, as men of hope, live out Relationships, a Holy Cross value, this year's Lunar New Year celebration was the second year St. Ed's AAPID affinity group took the lead on exposing students to these cultural traditions.

"That's the main reason we created AAPID in the first place," says College Counselor and AAPID Moderator Alicia Watts. "The more we expose ourselves to different cultures and thinking, the more dynamic we are as human beings. We want these young men to engage with diverse populations so that they leave St. Ed's more mature and educated about other cultures."