The Chinese New Year is a very special event for people around the world.  Traditionally the New Year lasts two weeks spanning from February 16 to March 2.  

There are many different events that go on throughout the New Year celebration, starting with spring cleaning of all homes. Mrs. Jane Hall, Mandarin student and Chinese Club adviser,  said, “This is representing a wish to bid farewell to the old year and welcome in the New Year of good fortune.”  

After that, streets, buildings, and homes are decorated with anything in red.  It represents auspicious color.  Things like red lanterns hang in the street and red posters with poems on them hang on doors of homes.  People usually dress in bright colors to show the joyfulness of the new year.  Then they have parties, eat food, sing, dance and play games all day and all night.

This is also the Year of the Dog. In Chinese astrology, each year is related to a Chinese Zodiac animal.  This is a 12-year cycle.  According to the mythical story, individuals born in the years 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, and 2018 are considered being born in the year of the dog.  The personality for these people is, in typical zodiac fashion, labeled as serious, loyal, honest, admirable, kind, cautious and prudent.

Notre Dame has its own Chinese Club that celebrates the Chinese New Year.  They will gather on Tuesday, February 20, in Notre Dame’s commons.

The celebration will include many different foods like Chinese dumplings, spicy noodles, spring rolls and more. Other events that will take place are dancing, Taiji (another word for Tai Chi), karaoke, board games and ping pong.  They will also be doing a variety of group dynamic games that are often played with family gatherings in China.