Show celebrates Asian New Year
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 10:13PM By Alexis Austin
austina@mytjnow.com
A Chinese dragon from last year’s Asian Lunar New Year Celebration interacts with the crowd. Celebrate the year of the rabbit.
Feb. 3 marked the beginning of the Asian Lunar New Year. Asian countries, especially those near China, operate on a lunar calendar. Big celebrations and festivals bring in the new year.
On Feb. 16, Winthrop will hold its second annual Asian Lunar New Year Celebration.
“We use it to honor our Asian students,” MBA graduate student Miguel Casajuana said. Casajuana is a graduate assistant in the International Center.
Casajuana began planning the event after returning from winter break. The International Center also worked with Multicultural Student Life and the Culture Club to plan the event. Theatre and dance professor Annie-Laurie Wheat will assist with stage control. Ms. Thi of Thi’s Place on Main assisted with costumes for the show and is providing the refreshments. International ambassadors, or international students attending Winthrop on full scholarships, will work backstage with the performers.
“It will be a very colorful and visual festivity with lots of music and movement,” Casajuana said.
There will be a human dragon, as seen in many Asian celebrations, singers, violinists, a fashion show and a performance by the Martial Arts Club. The performers will be Asian students.
Prior to the celebration, there will be refreshments and a short speech. Political science professor Melford Wilson will talk about his experiences in China and what the Asian Lunar New Year means.
Those who attend the event will also have the chance to participate in the surprise revelation, which is an Asian tradition where those in attendance will receive an envelope with something in it, however, only one lucky person will get $50.
While Winthrop’s Asian Lunar New Year Celebration will not be as big as the ones in Asia, Casajuana said it gives students a chance to celebrate another part of the world.
“It’s a great opportunity for students to experience a new culture,” he said.
The Asian Lunar New Year Celebration will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 in DIGS Banquet Hall. Tickets are $3 for students with a Winthrop I.D. and $5 for those without. Seating is limited. Tickets will be sold in the International Center, DIGS and Thomson lobby. It is an approved cultural event.
