Neighbor News
Tai Ji Men Celebrating the Year of the Dragon
From Lunar New Year Festivities to Cultural Performances, Tai Ji Men Promote Tradition, Health, Unity, and Joy
(Feb. 13, 2024, Walnut, California) — On February 10, the first day of the Year of the Dragon, the Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in Walnut hosted a Lunar New Year celebration. Adults and children happily participated in the joyous gathering on this auspicious day.
Tradition and Togetherness
Tai Ji Men members prepared delectable dishes and desserts that carry special meanings to share with their guests. Among the offerings were scallops paired with a vegetable symbolizing longevity, pineapple cakes representing prosperity, and rice cakes symbolizing personal growth and professional advancement. In an atmosphere of laughter and camaraderie, the event aimed to impart the significance of various traditional Lunar New Year customs and uphold cultural traditions.
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Approximately 60 Tai Ji Men members and guests participated, ranging from an 86-year-old elder to an 11-month-old toddler. The gathering exuded warmth and joy as generations mingled, reinforcing the value of respecting elders through actions. Elders were served first, followed by the younger participants, fostering a culture of deference and consideration. Participants exchanged well-wishes and optimistic sentiments, enabling children to carry the positivity back to their teachers and classmates upon returning to school.
Welcoming the Year of the Dragon
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A week later, on Saturday, February 17th, the Academy will continue the festivities. Invited by Walnut City, they will deliver fabulous cultural performances at Suzanne Park. In honor of the Year of the Dragon, Tai Ji Men will present its Celestial Dragon, Auspicious Lions, and Heavenly Official, bestowing abundant joy and blessings upon guests. Tai Ji Men's cultural performances, including the dragon formation, exemplify the positive energy, values, and virtues that its members have learned through qigong practice, fostering unity and cooperation. Tai Ji Men will present a majestic drum performance and a graceful silk umbrella dance, spreading goodwill and positive energy worldwide. Additionally, youngsters at Tai Ji Men will bring forth a lively and happy drum presentation, paving the way for a peaceful and prosperous 2024 for California, the United States, and the world.
About Tai Ji Men
Tai Ji Men is an international, non-profit cultural organization dedicated to cultural preservation and the promotion of the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of people worldwide. Starting in the year 2000, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the head of Tai Ji Men, established two Tai Ji Men Academies in California. In October 2023, Dr. Hong hosted the inauguration of two more new academies, one in Santa Clara and the other in Pasadena.
Over an extended period, Dr. Hong has led members of Tai Ji Men and the Federation of World Peace and Love to take on self-funded tours across six continents to promote a culture of peace rooted in love and conscience. Dr. Hong played a pivotal role in the United Nations’ adoption of the International Day of Conscience and received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the office of President Joe Biden in March 2023. This award recognized the 1.2 million hours that Dr. Hong and members of the Federation of World Peace and Love have dedicated to the nation.