On Friday, Bucknall Theater was filled with light, sounds, dancing, martial arts and stories as roughly 200 people came to celebrate Lunar New Year. The festivities jolted the crowd into the celebrating spirit, headlined by the Dancing Lions and their lifesize costumes that are cherished in the holiday’s celebration.
The event was hosted by the Office of Graduate and International Student Life.
Lunar New Year is celebrated on the first new moon of the Chinese calendar. The event usually takes place late January or early February and is known as the Spring Festival to some. Traced back over 4000 years ago, the lunar holiday was traditionally celebrated with the killing of lambs and cooking the meat, commemorating their masters and cheering for a long life.
The campus celebration began with a presentation and some words of welcome from Steve Macchiarolo, OGISL director, as well as by Henry C. Lee. The presentation included images and stories shared of traditions that took place when celebrating the Lunar New year as Lee explained how the tradition was brought to campus.
Before moving onto the performances, Macchiarolo and Lee played a game with the audience, testing their knowledge of history. People who knew their history were rewarded with money and gifts.
The next performance was Yingna Lu and her performance with the erhu, a two-stringed musical instrument, commonly referred to as the “Chinese violin” or “two-stringed fiddle.”
The festival gave senior Bryan Cadavos a chance in the spotlight and he played a short piano composition.
Before the two biggest performances of the night, the MC hosted a short interactive activity for the audience. Urging members of the audience go on the stage for a 15-minute lesson on how to defend themselves.
The festival also allowed the youth to showcase their skills as well. Wu Dang Kung Fu Academy students – some as young as six-years-old – had two intense showcases and gave the audience a taste of their skills in hand-to-hand combat and synchronized techniques. The second academy performance showcased their skills with different weapons, including broadswords, double-edged swords, staffs, sword and shield combos and chains.
At the end, Macchiarolo announced that the 44th annual International Festival would be in April.
