By Ralph Parcon
We know that Jan. 1 is the start of the new year, but Lunar New Year is more significant amongst East Asian countries, especially China, Korea, and Vietnam, where it is respectively known by local names such as Spring Festival, Seollal, and Tet.
The date of Lunar New Year varies from year to year, with it generally falling between late-January and mid-February.
For the most part, the Chinese parts of the Lunar New Year are often emphasized.
One example are the Chinese zodiac animals being assigned to a year. While last year’s animal was the Dragon, this year’s is the Snake and next year’s will be the Horse.
Other notable elements of Lunar New Year include decorated red envelopes, which contain money. The Chinese character and red both represent good luck 福 (pronounced Fu) while gold represents fortune and the Lion Dances.
Hosted by the Center for Cultural Liberation (CCL), the Dominican community celebrated Lunar New Year with a Lion Dance performance by the Hoang Phuc Lion Dance Association, giving students a cultural insight into one way that Lunar New Year is celebrated.
Attendees were given a red envelope with a piece of paper describing what the holiday is and could choose from a selection of traditional Asian snacks.
In addition, Buddies Beyond Borders, a club that focuses on sharing cultures and making connections between local and foreign students, also hosted a Lunar New Year event of their own, where attendees could paint their own fans and lanterns.
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