WOOD DRAGONS AND LANTERNS: Herrontown Woods recently hosted a Lantern Festival and year of the wood dragon celebration, welcoming more than 200 visitors for a dragon parade, traditional Chinese songs and games, a tea party, and a festive community gathering in nature. (Photo by Kristin Ohrt for Herrontown Woods)

By Donald Gilpin

Danni Zhao, Montgomery resident and founder of United Moms, was a frequent visitor to Herrontown Woods with her young family. Inge Regan, Friends of Herrontown Woods (FOHW) board member, often joined them and they chatted as they strolled through the woods.

“As we walked together we got this idea,” said Zhao. “2024 is the year of the wood dragon, and this is the perfect time and Herrontown Woods is the perfect place to celebrate the dragon year in the woods. And Inge suggested we organize this event together.”

In what Zhao described as “an enchanting display of lights, culture, and community spirit,” Herrontown Woods last month hosted more than 200 participants for its inaugural Lantern Festival, celebrating  the last day of the  Chinese New Year festivities and the year of the wood dragon, highlighted by a “mesmerizing” lantern walk and dragon parade.

To the beat of red Chinese drums, children and adults carrying colorful dragons paraded through the winding paths of the Botanical Art Garden, known as “the Barden.” Children sang traditional new year songs, guests enjoyed tea and tangerines, and the Herrontown Woods visitors played traditional games like jianzi and ribbon dancing.

FOHW Board President Steve Hiltner led a group on a lantern walk through the woods to the historic Veblen House, former residence of Oscar Veblen, the renowned Princeton University and Institute for Advanced Study mathematician and Albert Einstein colleague.

“The wood dragon, known for its cooperative, upbeat, and understanding nature, symbolizes a year of growth and stability, especially in relationships,” Zhao wrote in a press release. “It brings both the promise of fortune and new opportunities according to the Chinese zodiac. This made our event at Herrontown Woods particularly special, blending the wood dragon’s symbolism with the serene beauty of nature.”

Zhao, who in recent years both gave birth to a child and completed her Ph.D., emphasized the significance of mothers bonding and supporting each other. “Chinese moms, French moms, American moms — sometimes they don’t connect with each other,” she said. “They use different social media and they speak different languages, but their needs are common. They all have needs, and they have common issues with babies. It can be very lonely for everybody.”

She continued, “The solidarity among mothers has been my anchor, making my path through motherhood and academia far less lonely. Seeing so many families here during this event reaffirms the strength of our community.”

Zhao went on to point out that the Lantern Festival and year of the wood dragon celebration was an auspicious occasion to promote inclusion, particularly for a number of senior citizens. “Some of the grandparents came to take care of their children,” she said. “They often have a language barrier, and they can be isolated. I saw grandparents at the event who are isolated, but at the event they saw many new faces and made new friends. I saw one lady who cried when she heard the children singing the traditional songs.”

Zhao and Regan were originally expecting about 30 people to attend the event, but when more than 200 people had already registered a week before the event, they had to limit the attendance.  Zhao is looking forward to organizing different events in the future to connect the community, and especially mothers from different backgrounds.

Is this the start of a Chinese New Year Herrontown Woods tradition? “Next year will be the year of the snake,” said Zhao. “We’ll see. If more interest arises, I’ll happy to organize it.”

Calling for environmental stewardship — “See it, know it, love it, protect it,” Regan noted that Herrontown Woods welcomes all community members to initiate and organize events, and she invited the community to participate in the Herrontown Woods Earth Day festivities on April 13. Visit herrontownwoods.org for more information.

—Donald Gilpin

Danni Zhao, Montgomery resident and founder of United Moms, was a frequent visitor to Herrontown Woods with her young family. Inge Regan, Friends of Herrontown Woods (FOHW) board member, often joined them and they chatted as they strolled through the woods.

“As we walked together we got this idea,” said Zhao. “2024 is the year of the wood dragon, and this is the perfect time and Herrontown Woods is the perfect place to celebrate the dragon year in the woods. And Inge suggested we organize this event together.”

In what Zhao described as “an enchanting display of lights, culture, and community spirit,” Herrontown Woods last month hosted more than 200 participants for its inaugural Lantern Festival, celebrating  the last day of the  Chinese New Year festivities and the year of the wood dragon, highlighted by a “mesmerizing” lantern walk and dragon parade.

To the beat of red Chinese drums, children and adults carrying colorful dragons paraded through the winding paths of the Botanical Art Garden, known as “the Barden.” Children sang traditional new year songs, guests enjoyed tea and tangerines, and the Herrontown Woods visitors played traditional games like jianzi and ribbon dancing.

FOHW Board President Steve Hiltner led a group on a lantern walk through the woods to the historic Veblen House, former residence of Oscar Veblen, the renowned Princeton University and Institute for Advanced Study mathematician and Albert Einstein colleague.

“The wood dragon, known for its cooperative, upbeat, and understanding nature, symbolizes a year of growth and stability, especially in relationships,” Zhao wrote in a press release. “It brings both the promise of fortune and new opportunities according to the Chinese zodiac. This made our event at Herrontown Woods particularly special, blending the wood dragon’s symbolism with the serene beauty of nature.”

Zhao, who in recent years both gave birth to a child and completed her Ph.D., emphasized the significance of mothers bonding and supporting each other. “Chinese moms, French moms, American moms — sometimes they don’t connect with each other,” she said. “They use different social media and they speak different languages, but their needs are common. They all have needs, and they have common issues with babies. It can be very lonely for everybody.”

She continued, “The solidarity among mothers has been my anchor, making my path through motherhood and academia far less lonely. Seeing so many families here during this event reaffirms the strength of our community.”

Zhao went on to point out that the Lantern Festival and year of the wood dragon celebration was an auspicious occasion to promote inclusion, particularly for a number of senior citizens. “Some of the grandparents came to take care of their children,” she said. “They often have a language barrier, and they can be isolated. I saw grandparents at the event who are isolated, but at the event they saw many new faces and made new friends. I saw one lady who cried when she heard the children singing the traditional songs.”

Zhao and Regan were originally expecting about 30 people to attend the event, but when more than 200 people had already registered a week before the event, they had to limit the attendance.  Zhao is looking forward to organizing different events in the future to connect the community, and especially mothers from different backgrounds.

Is this the start of a Chinese New Year Herrontown Woods tradition? “Next year will be the year of the snake,” said Zhao. “We’ll see. If more interest arises, I’ll happy to organize it.”

Calling for environmental stewardship — “See it, know it, love it, protect it,” Regan noted that Herrontown Woods welcomes all community members to initiate and organize events, and she invited the community to participate in the Herrontown Woods Earth Day festivities on April 13. Visit herrontownwoods.org for more information.