When Anthony Pham was younger, he was taught about the etiquette of Vietnamese New Year, particularly the art of “hustling money.”Each year, elders give younger family members money inside red envelopes, representing prosperity and luck for the New Year  — an interaction referred to as “li xi,” according to Pham, biological sciences sophomore. One year, Pham said he received mere chunk change because he didn’t say the expected New Year phrases to the elders. Pham’s parents told him to say “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới” and “phát tài”  to ensure more red envelopes and more money, Pham said.He never made that mistake again. Now, the external vice president of the Vietnamese Student Organization said he realizes the Vietnamese New Year, Tet, has more important traditions. “My mom doesn’t cook at all during Vietnamese New Year because it’s considered bad luck — she has to cook the night before,” Pham said. “Also, we can’t clean up the house, and the first person to walk in the house has to be the good child and the good person in the family.”The Vietnamese and Chinese New Years fell on Feb. 14 this year.And with the New Year, Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day during the same week, Pham and his friends split time with other holidays.”A lot of my friends didn’t really do anything throughout Mardi Gras because they spent time with their families for New Year and some celebrated Valentine’s,” Pham said. Some Vietnamese students had quiet New Years. Christina Tran, international business freshman, decided not to celebrate Tet. “I didn’t really do anything this year. I usually burn fake money for my dad because he passed away,” Tran said. “In other years, I would visit my family, get li xi and clean up before the New Year starts.”University Chinese students also practice the red envelope tradition and see the New Year as a time to celebrate with family, said Pei Pei Han, anthropology graduate student.”For the normal family, on New Year’s Day, we gather to have a traditional family dinner and watch the performances on the national Chinese TV station. We also have      fireworks,” said Han, president of the Chinese Student and Scholars Association.While the Chinese and Vietnamese New Years officially passed, several Baton Rouge events celebrating the Asian cultures and New Year have yet to take place.The CSSA will host several events in the coming days. On Feb. 19, CSSA will hold a traditional lion dance and exhibition of Chinese culture, including a fashion show and a tae chi illustration. The event will take place at noon in Free Speech Alley.On Feb. 20, CSSA will hold a traditional Chinese dinner and student performance at 6 p.m. in the International Cultural Center. Students will dance, play musical instruments and perform Chinese plays. Both events are open to LSU students and are free. Many Vietnamese students will be traveling to New Orleans this weekend to attend the Tet fair at Mary Queen of Vietnam Church. The fair will incorporate the Vietnamese culture and traditions, including Asian cuisine and musical performances by famous Vietnamese singers. There will be a traditional Vietnamese dress fashion show and games with prize awards. –Contact Kieu Tran at [email protected]