One of the most important holidays for many Asian cultures is the celebration of Lunar New Year. To welcome the New Year, several Fort Worth/Dallas area Gladney adoptees and parents attended a Chinese New Year Gala hosted by International Cross Cultural Foundation (ICCF). 

ICCF graciously donated tickets to our families, providing a unique and unforgettable experience for adoptees and their parents! We’ve heard that favorite performances included dancers performing with bowls on their heads, the Chinese zither, and a duet by pianist and violinist. When bidding families farewell, ICCF welcomed Gladney adoptees to the stage to participate in a red envelope ceremony where they were presented with a stuffed rabbit and red envelope to celebrate! 

One of our families drove over 5 hours from Amarillo, TX to join the celebration! For this family, they said the drive was worth it for their Asian children to experience hearing Mandarin again and being with other adoptees from their birth culture. Another family re-connected with an adoptive family who they met while both families were taking placement of their sons in China. 

This event was a great opportunity for families to embrace their children’s culture, and make special memories to last a lifetime.  We look forward to celebrating with new friends and families at next year’s Lunar New Year Celebration! 

On behalf of Gladney Center’s Asia Team — Happy Lunar New Year!