Welcome to the Year of the Monkey!
Today begins the Chinese New Year, a calendar based on the cycles of the moon. The Chinese Students and Scholars Association will host a Chinese New Year’s party Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the International Community Center on Dalrymple Drive.
“Each year is named after one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac,” said Wenming Wang, president of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association. “2004 is the year of the monkey, the symbol of intelligence. This will be a year full of energy and charm. People will be good at figuring out things in their lives.”
While the Western New Year’s lasts only one night, Chinese New Year’s is a longer celebration.
“Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is the most important Chinese holiday,” said John Henderson, LSU Professor of East Asia and China. “It is celebrated for 15 days, but preparations begin long before the start of the new year.”
Chinese New Year is a festival of many traditions, including huge feasts, firecrackers, games, lantern displays, as well as many other traditions and ceremonies to bring wealth and luck in the new year, Wang said.
The Chinese Students and Scholars Association will offer traditional Chinese food, performances by students, a lottery, games, dancing and karaoke. A video of the China Central 2004 Chinese New Year Gala also will be shown.