As muddied grass peeks its way through the melting snow, Moravian Academy students are embracing the many things, big and small, that define our community of inclusion.

Recently, the Upper School Chinese classes held their annual Chinese New Year celebration. With students adorned in Tang dynasty jackets and qipaos, the Moravian community gathered to celebrate the Year of the Horse.

The evening opened to the beat of a Chinese drum accompanied by the ferocious and playful lion dance. Behind the embellished lion costume came a procession of the Chinese class students performing the Yangko dance – a vibrant twirling of fans originating from Northern China – to usher the New Year in with good luck.

For the main event, students across the six Chinese classes at Moravian prepared poems from the Tang dynasty, tai chi movements, and a variety of popular Chinese songs, including Fei Yu-ching’s melancholic “A Sprig of Plum Blossoms.” The night closed with the Chopstick Brothers’ upbeat track, “Little Apple,” along with the signature dance favored by many students.

After the performances, attendees were ushered into the Melhado dining room adorned with New Year’s talismans and calligraphy from the Advanced Chinese History, Culture and Literature class – a unique course offering at Moravian taking an in-depth and interactive exploration of ancient Chinese society and art. Seeing as it was their last New Year celebration, the senior class of Chinese students prepared a recitation of Wang Wei’s “Thanking Master Zhang with a Poem” to thank their Chinese teacher for her dedication in nurturing their Chinese education for nearly ten years.

An evening of music, culture, and memories, this year’s Chinese New Year celebration serves as a testament to Moravian students’ cultural curiosity. Xīn nián kuài lè (Happy New Year), from us to you.

Later that week, students gathered for the Muslim Student Association’s annual Iftar dinner. As we enter the holy month of Ramadan in Islamic belief, many members of the Moravian community observe fasting during the day as a way of connecting with faith and gratitude. The first fast of Ramadan was broken with the eating of dates and water, and attendees were taken into the lounge to participate in an optional prayer.

After the prayer, the Iftar feast was held with delectable food from a local halal restaurant. Laila Ali (‘26) comments on her experience: “I have never met a community as accepting, diverse, and eager to include as well as be a part of different cultures and customs. Fasting with my friends and then breaking fast together at Iftar – experiencing just a small part of what they do during Ramadan – was not only insightful, but it also taught me not to take anything for granted. I really love how welcoming this community is and the connections I’ve built with so many great people through it.”

Misha Desai (’26) also enjoyed the experience. “As a member of the Muslim Student Association, I had a lot of fun setting up for the event and making a place of community for my peers to celebrate Iftar. The food was also really good!”

In this holy season, Moravian continues to make space for the diverse celebrations our community observes. Ramadan Kareem to all who celebrate!

Melhado dining room sure is busy this time of year! This past Valentine’s Day, Coda Red, Moravian’s signature a cappella ensemble, encircled lunch tables in the dining room, serenading students with love songs while they enjoyed Valentine’s treats. Extemporaneous acts like these are just what make our Moravian community so unique – the intimacy of our community to pause and enjoy the talents of our fellow Lions.

As we reemerge from this glacial spell, Moravian finds warmth in sharing the celebrations that are so close to us all.