Utah State Students Celebrate the Year of the Dog

Utah State University’s Chinese Student and Scholar Association will host a traditional Chinese New Year banquet and culture show at the Taggart Student Center ballroom Saturday, Jan. 28.

 

The event celebrates one of the most festive holidays in Chinese cultural tradition. The holiday begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar, and continues until the full moon 15 days later. This year’s holiday begins Sunday, Jan. 29.

 

“The CSSA works very hard each year to present an authentic experience of how we celebrate the Chinese New Year in China,” said Ce (Martin) Wang, president of CSSA.

 

In the past, a central part of the holiday was a religious ceremony in honor of heaven and earth uniting the living members of a family with their ancestors. Today, the holiday’s emphasis is on family gatherings, food, gifts and a traditional fireworks display.

 

Leah Zimmerman, a junior majoring in family and human development, spent the first half of 2005 as a volunteer English teacher in the coastal city of Wuxi, China. She said the festivities surrounding Chinese New Year helped build an initial impression and shape her experience in the country.

 

“During our first week in China, we met a city strewn with red lanterns and fell asleep to the sound of fireworks outside our windows,” said Zimmerman. “The excitement surrounding the holiday was such an inviting way to expose us to a country and culture we grew to love, and I’m excited for the opportunity to celebrate this year on Utah State’s campus.”

 

Utah State is presently home to 116 Chinese students and scholars and their families. Wang said this event is meant to expose Utah State students to the holiday as well as uphold traditions for the Chinese families on campus and in the community.