Chinese New Year
It all began with Nian, a man-devouring beast that moved across China silently infiltrating houses.
Learning that the monster was scared of loud noises and the color red, the Chinese people began using explosions, fireworks and red clothing and decorations to scare the beast away.
Thus, according to legend, began a holiday festival celebrated across the globe.
Chinese New Year, a yearly celebration in the majority of Asian countries, is coming to the Utah State University campus and will give students and community members a taste of China.
“We not only want to have the party so people can feel the culture of Chinese, we want them to feel like they’re in China,” Wang Ce, President of Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA), said.
Wang, a doctoral student in computer science, said this year will be the most beautiful party that has been planned so far at USU. All of the decorations and costumes from the evening come from China.
The event costs $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12 years old. Every person who buys a ticket will get dinner, and a variety of Chinese-themed entertainment, CSSA secretary Guo Yan said.
The entertainment includes Tibetan dancing, folk music and songs as well as a kung fu show and tai chi. A fashion show at the end of the party will model traditional Chinese dresses.
“There will be instruments and a lot of different kinds of performance,” Guo said. “There will be flute and traditional Chinese string instruments. There will be violins and an American band that will play Chinese music.”
Chip Brockbank, a junior in economics who is participating in the entertainment, said the exciting thing about the celebration is that everyone can learn a little more about China and how diverse it really is.
“We have a single-minded attitude,” Brockbank said. “Sometimes when Americans think of China they only think kung fu. We see what’s on television and that only one side, one very small part of China.”
Because the Chinese New Year Celebration will include music, dancing, singing and skits, Brockbank said those who come will be able to see China in a new way and better understand the complexity of the culture.
Brockbank said he is most excited about the food which will be catered by the new Grand Buffet restaurant in Logan. He said the food will be even better than it was last year.
Wang said he has eaten at the Grand Buffet many times and the quality of the food is much better than most places.
Last year, Chinese New Year was celebrated by 500 people at USU and the CSSA expects at least that many people again to come from the university and community this year.
Wang compared Chinese New Year to the American celebrations of Christmas or Thanksgiving because it is at those times that families gather together with large dinners.
“It’s different than New Year’s in America because here, everyone goes to one place to see fireworks but in China, everyone plays fireworks. Imagine the whole city in fireworks! It’s very magnificent,” Wang said.
The festival includes a number of tradiontal Chinese foods including dumplings and fish. When the families gather togther, they watch movies and, at midnight, adults give children red envelopes called Hong Bao’s filled with money so they can buy whatever they want, Wang said.
“We will have lots of food and a family reunion. We will have money in red envelopes. We clean our house and make it shine to have a good start for the new year,” Guo said.
Traditionally, every new year people always wear new clothes and have one to two weeks off from work and school.
“It’s a happy time for everyone,” Wang said.
“We are so glad so many people are interested and would like to perform Chinese culture. I like the diversity and open-mindedness and cultural interaction on campus. I’ve enjoyed the whole process of preparation. We’ve made it very interesting and creative,” Guo said. “Hopefully people will come and celebrate our culture and make friends with the Chinese.”
-mnewbold@cc.usu.edu