Among the biggest annual celebrations in numerous East and Southeast Asian cultures, Lunar New Year will be commemorated on the K-State campus with a Saturday celebration.
Lunar New Year coincides with the first new moon of the 354-day-long lunar calendar, this year falling on February 1. Festivities vary and can be observed for multiple days, in some cases lasting 15 days until the full moon. This year marks the transition to the Year of the Tiger, part of the 12-year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac.
The holiday has numerous names across cultures, including the Spring Festival or Chūn jié (春節 / 春节) in Mandarin, Tết Nguyên Đán in Vietnamese, and Seollal (설날) in Korean. It’s a time known for fine-dressing, feasting and family.
“This is like for sure the one point in the year when we can expect everybody to show up and see each other,” says Asian American Student Union Vice President Michelle Le.
KMAN spoke with multiple residents about their perspectives on the holiday and its significance to them. AASU President Sabine Hoff says the family element is common with her experience coming from a Chinese background.
“A time to come together as a community and just enjoy each other’s presence with each other and get to enjoy a bunch of good food.”
Dr. Anan Wan is an advertising professor in K-State’s A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Originally from China, Dr. Wan says the holiday sparks memories of family-style meals with good company.
“Especially before COVID, the more traditional way to celebrate that is you […] you go to your grandparents house and they would cook a lot of dishes and we just share everything,” she says. “But I think maybe for the past 20 years or so, we started the tradition of just eating outside because we feel it’s a lot of work for the grandparents to cook.”
Le says her Vietnamese household is typical of Asian families in that food is a major component of any major celebration. When it comes to Tết, she says the dish bánh tét is a staple.
“It’s kind of like a […] glutinous rice cake that’s wrapped in a banana leaf,” she says. “And we normally eat it together and it kind of means you’re welcoming luck for the new year.
“There’s a lot of symbolism behind the food, which is why they kind of go hand-in-hand with each other.”
Hoff says many Chinese dishes special for Lunar New Year have names that sound similar when spoken to words with positive meanings such as ‘prosperity’ or ‘longevity.’
Amid the pandemic, family gatherings typical during the holiday have been scaled back. Le says while perhaps dampening the spirit somewhat, it lives on in celebrants still.
“Even though the gathering isn’t as big, a lot of families are still trying to make it work,” she says. “I know some people have been hosting it on zoom or they just call each other over video chat.”
“I definitely agree,” says Hoff. “The spirit is definitely still much alive, although it looks a bit different now in the past few years.”
Dr. Wan says this marks the 11th years she’s been living in the United States, saying she’s had to find virtual means to commemorate the occasion for years. While there’s a lack of ubiquitous celebration in the Manhattan area compared to home, she says social media has made it easier for her to feel connected to the festivities.
“Actually, today is our Chinese New Year’s Eve, so this is considered the most important day in our culture,” says Wan. “But, I mean, I’m working, I’m teaching today, I just have a really busy day today; but looking at my phone and seeing their messages, their videos they sent me, […] because of the technology I still feel the spirit.”
While some may be connecting with family virtually this year, K-State is hosting an in-person celebration for Lunar New Year in the K-State Student Union Courtyard. Hoff encourages people to attend between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., saying they have a lot planned.
“We’re hoping to have a relatively good turnout this Saturday,” says Hoff. “I think K-State hasn’t had a celebration like this in the past, I want to say three years.”
The event includes singers and musicians from KU and WSU as well as K-State’s Japanese dance team. Hoff says to also expect materials to make paper lanterns, free food, photo opportunities, and spray tattoos.
“Never hurts to wear some lucky color red and […] keep an open mind,” says Le. “They will be able to see some authentic cultural performances too, so just keep an open mind and be ready to learn about Lunar New Year from the Asian community on campus itself.”
It’s hosted by AASU as well as the Vietnamese Student Association, Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers and Union Program Council. Funding support was provided by Student Governing Association, the Dow Center for Multicultural Studies, the K-State Alumni Center, Chen’s Chinese Restaurant, and Mama Fang’s Asian Market.
