The Institute of International Studies in Education (IISE) hosted the Lunar New Year party on January 23, 2020. This annual Lunar New Year gathering is an echo of IISE’s continuous commitment to cultural diversity and inter-cultural engagement.
Lasted from noon to 3 pm, the party drew interests of more than 110 guests from various schools and offices across Pitt, such as Education, Art & Science, Nursing, LRDC, and several Centers, including Asian studies, African, and East European centers. The guests mingled and enjoyed an array of Asian food and delicacies. There was a guitar and singing performance by Jorge Delgado, IISE Coordinator Program, who sang several Chinese songs, together with IISE visiting scholars from China.
One of the guests, Anna-Maria Karnes, advisor for the African Studies Program, had a great time. “I thought the event was fabulous! Everyone was warm and excited to be there! I loved the diversity of the group that was there and the songs sung by Jorge. It was such as lovely event.”
Lunar New Year is a cultural holiday typically celebrated across Asia. It marks the new year on the lunar calendar. The dates and the rituals may vary across cultures and countries. Because it is based on the lunar calendar, dates of the new year holiday on the Gregorian calendar may change every year. It often falls between January 21 and February 20. Hence, dates of holiday observances may vary across cultures, as their interpretations of the lunar calendar may be different.
The Lunar new year is also famously known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival. However, the celebrations are not limited to Chinese communities or in China. The Koreans also celebrates Lunar new year and calls the holiday Seollnal. Similarly, in Vietnam, the holiday is called it Tet, and in Tibet, they call it Losar (Source: www.britannica.com/topic/Lunar-New-Year).
Although the celebration varies across cultures and falls on different dates, one big, common theme remains the same, i.e. family reunions. The holiday brings families and relatives together to honor their ancestors (and deities) and to perform rites and rituals for good luck, fortune and prosperity.
Countries in the West are increasingly aware of the Lunar New Year celebration for many reasons. Asian diaspora in American and European continents, for example, has created their own modified versions of Lunar New Year celebration to compensate their being away from home for the holiday. They invite friends, neighbors and colleagues while introducing the holiday traditions. The holiday also has implications for global trades and businesses. Because Lunar New Year is a national holiday, it affects the business hours of companies in Asia or they may even close for several days. It is also common for their employees to have few days off or use their vacation time during the week of Lunar New Year.
At IISE, celebrating cultural holidays and traditions like Lunar New Year is also to increase cross-cultural mindfulness, to broaden world culture knowledge, as well as to provide a hub for inter-cultural engagement.