The Chinese New Year, also called the Lunar New Year, began Feb. 7, 2008. This is the Year of the Rat (also called Wu Zi year, where "wu" and "zi" are two digits in the Chinese calendar system). The elaborate 15-day celebration includes a variety of special activities where family and friends gather to eat rich foods, exchange gifts, shoot fireworks, wear new clothes, and observe traditional ceremonies.

Preparations for the festivities start early and include an annual house cleaning where every corner is swept and duilian (auspicious and rhythmic words written calligraphically with a brush pen on a red piece of paper) are put on or around the door. The final day of the celebration culminates in the Lantern Festival, often featuring the dragon dance performed by young men.

In this modern era of information, a new custom has developed - on the eve of the Chinese New Year, virtually all Chinese around the world watch the show "CCTV New Year's Gala" with family and friends.

There are many web sites that provide more details, including beautiful photographs.

http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/15-day_celebration.html
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/chinesenewyear1.html
http://holidays.kaboose.com/what-is-chinese-new-year.html
http://www.123chinesenewyear.com/
http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/festival/newyear/newyear.html#Traditional

To truly appreciate cultural diversity on our campus, ask some of our International students from China to describe traditions they enjoyed with their families.

Mari Buche
SBE Student Services and Outreach Committee