Cal State East Bay to Celebrate Lunar New Year with Art and Culture Feb. 16-20

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  • February 13, 2015

HAWARD – Cal State East Bay will celebrate Lunar New Year with a week of art and culture, Monday through Friday, Feb. 16-20, on the Hayward campus. Various Asian countries celebrate Lunar New Year, including China, Vietnam, Korea, and others.

“Our goal is to showcase Lunar New Year events that represent the diversity of cultures on our campus,” said My-Lan Huynh, orientation coordinator. “We are excited to have our students and faculty share their traditions and celebrations with the campus community.”

All CSUEB faculty, staff, and students are invited to submit pictures of their own Lunar New Year celebrations to be showcased in the Lunar New Year Photo Show on Friday, Feb. 20. Photos depicting iconic images, traditions, family celebrations, and more are welcome. Digital and physical photos are currently being accepted and will be returned. Submit photos to Geary Gao, Student Service Operation Success mentee, at ggao3@horizon.csueastbay.edu by Wednesday, Feb. 18.

All Lunar New Year events are led by students and faculty and are free and open to the public.

  • Monday, Feb. 16: The celebration gets underway at 8 p.m. with a traditional Mien egg-dyeing event in the University Village Den. In the Mien culture, dyeing eggs red symbolizes happiness, vitality, and good fortune. Pioneer Heights Residential Life, sponsors of the event, invites individuals to learn more about this traditional celebration by dyeing their own eggs red to give as gifts.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 17: A traditional Chinese Lion Dance, sponsored by Student Service Operation for Success and the Diversity Center, will be performed from 12:30-12:50 p.m. on the Agora Stage. Attendees are invited to bring a lunch and watch the performance. The lion’s dance is performed to chase away ghosts and evil spirits, and to bring luck to the new year. Attendees can also take part in arts and crafts activities around Agora Stage.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 17: From 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Diversity Center, the Student Service Operation for Success and the Diversity Center will present “Real Talk – What is Lunar New Year?” Attendees will enjoy traditional Lunar New Year desserts while engaging in a discussion about cultural celebrations and traditions.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 18: The Lunar New Year Celebration, showcasing the traditions of many Asian countries and the ways different cultures mark the beginning of the year, will take place from 7-9 p.m. in Lassen Hall. Sponsored by Pioneer Heights Residential Life, the event will feature food, games, and other activities.
  • Friday, Feb. 20: A calligraphy workshop will take place from noon-1 p.m. in the University Union Multipurpose Room. Everyone is invited to learn how to differentiate various calligraphy styles and written Asian languages, and to create their own calligraphy collage. The event is sponsored by the office of Student Service Operation for Success.
  • Friday, Feb. 20: The Lunar New Year Photo Show, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the University Union Multipurpose Room, will be the final event in the celebration. Also sponsored by Student Service Operation for Success, the exhibit will showcase the diversity found within Asian and Asian American cultural celebrations.

For more information, contact My-Lan Huynh at 510-885-3657 or my-lan.huynh@csueastbay.edu.