Chinese students welcome Year of the Dragon at Spring Festival Celebration

• Tweet
• 

The Chinese Student and Scholar Association rang in the new year on Saturday as they put together their annual Spring Festival Celebration.

The annual event at Grace Church’s Ward Theater, 218 S. Main St., is a way for Chinese students to celebrate the holiday during a busy school year and give each other their best wishes, said Yi Li, China senior and former CSSA president.

“It’s like what Christmas is here,” Li said.  “Family and friends celebrate together, and so we get together kind of like a big family every year.”

Chinese New Year, known as Spring Festival in China, is a 15-day celebration based on the traditional Chinese calendar, which uses both the sun’s and moon’s phases in determining the date. The year officially begins Monday. Each year starts with a new zodiac sign from Chinese astrology; 2012 is the Year of the Dragon, representing courage and prosperity.

The Spring Festival Celebration featured videos and demonstrations explaining the central focus of family during the holiday. Traditional activities such as giving gifts of money in red envelopes and cleaning out the house to make way for incoming good luck were also explained.

The celebration also included martial arts demonstrations and musical performances from students. A dramatic performance called “Linger,” about the life of a Chinese college student, was featured, and the event ended with a meal of traditional Chinese food.

Chen Liu, China senior and CSSA president, said members started preparing for the annual celebration about three weeks before the event.

“Because the date of Spring Festival came earlier than usual this year, members had less time to prepare, but still did a very good job,” Liu said.

Liu said CSSA is usually able to allow any members who would like to perform do so.

“At our first rehearsal we ask members what kind of performances they want,” Liu said. “From there, we usually choose around 13. We usually like to pick things that best show our traditions and culture.”

The annual celebration started at Ward Theater about six years ago, said Mount Pleasant resident and Grace Church volunteer Kim Tollenaere.

“Our church has had a good relationship with Chinese students, and through that friendship, the event came to be here,” Tollenaere said. “It’s a great thing.”