Millions of people around the world celebrate Lunar New Year, which signals the beginning of a new year and is celebrated with family gatherings, food, festivals and cultural traditions.
Organizations at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) are ringing in the new year with different celebrations for students to learn about the holiday and come together with friends through fun activities.
The Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) is hosting a Lunar New Year celebration on Feb. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the ballroom at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. VSA is hosting this event to help students not feel so alone during the holiday.
Along with the VSA, BGSU’s Chinese Language and Culture Club is also hosting an event to celebrate Lunar New Year on Feb. 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the BTSU multi-purpose room. This event will have food, performances, games and other cultural activities.
“This is the time that everybody would come together and celebrate the new year and wish other people good luck for the new year. This is a special time because coming back home and gathering with family, but we have school, so we can not do that. The celebration at the school we are going to have is a really meaningful event,“ said Que Truong, VSA president.
Typically, New Year’s is celebrated on a set date, while Lunar New Year changes every year.
“Lunar New Year to us is a time that we celebrate for the new year. It’s based on the Asian calendar. So, it may change every year compared to the Western calendar. This year, the official first day of the Lunar New Year will be on Feb. 17,” Truong said.
One tradition on Lunar New Year is with the red envelopes that people can fill with money; this tradition is Truong’s favorite.
“We also give out the red envelope, and in that we have lucky money. Most likely, people in the mid-age about 40s to 50s, they would have a stable income, they would give their kid the red envelope, just wishing they had a good year of school and health. That is one of my favorite parts of the Lunar New Year,” Truong said.
It can be difficult to be away from family during the holidays, but the VSA aims to create a space for students to feel less alone.
“I’m gonna be sad because it’s a really close time on the first day, but I would say I prefer to have a celebration, a really happy celebration and hang out with my friends,” Truong said.
