Lunar New Year Celebration

Each year, the Center for Equity and Inclusion collaborates with the AAPI THRIVE program to host a Lunar New Year celebration. The event is filled with vibrant performances, cultural cuisine, and Registered Student Organization (RSO) tabling. Students and staff learn about the rich traditions and meaning of Lunar New Year, as they came together to welcome the new year with joy and community spirit.

Lunar New Year is a traditional holiday that originated in China over 3,000 years ago. Early celebrations focused on honoring deities and ancestors around the harvest time. Over time, traditions like warding off evil spirits and celebrating the new year itself emerged. The Han Dynasty solidified the date and established some well-known practices like creating loud noises to drive away negativity. Lunar New Year has endured and remains a major cultural celebration for many Asian and Asian American communities today.