A Chinese New Year celebration for the Year of the Sheep included food, decorations and activities for those eating at the Caf on Feb. 23. In honor of the Lunar New Year, Chinese food was served along with karaoke, martial art performances, and an acrobatic lion dance. Chinese New Year is an important holiday where the color red is worn and used for decorations, as well as gift-wrapping and envelopes given to children filled with “lucky money.”At the Caf, cultural music filled the room as people from all over the world were able to experience a little bit of the Chinese holiday together. The students ate a festive meal of Canton duck soup, Peking steamed buns, shrimp chow ho fun, General Tso chicken, eggs rolls, oriental salad with sesame soy dressing, jasmine rice and Chinese red bean rice cakes. There were bubble tea drinks too giving students the opportunity to try new things while participating in traditions and customs. Different Asian cultures around the world celebrate this holiday a bit differently, said BYU-Hawaii students, but usually it includes big family get-togethers and lots of food. “We celebrate the same day in Korea. It’s just a little bit different,” said Seopin Nam, a TESOL major from South Korea. When asked if the celebration in the Caf was anything like it had been at home, Nam responded, “No, the food was very weird. It’s nothing like that when I celebrate it at home.” But Felicia Lee, a business management major from Singapore, said she enjoyed the festivities and appreciated the efforts the Caf put into celebrating her favorite holiday. “Not having family here made it different,” said Lee, “because it’s definitely a holiday focused on family… I feel like they did all they could to bring the spirit of Chinese New Year.” One of Lee’s favorite parts was the lion dance, a traditional Chinese New Year event. Two performers work in tandem to make the lion dance and interact with the audience. One operated the head complete with opening and closing the lion’s mouth to receive holiday gifts. The other performer assisted the operator of the head to make the lion walk and do acrobatic tricks. Lee said she thought they really captured the essence of the holiday and made it enjoyable for all students of every culture.“This makes us want to go to China to celebrate,” said Taryn Skahill, a TESOL major from Texas.
Writer: Ali Apgood
