Students of San José State gathered together for celebrations hosted by MOSAIC Cross Cultural Center and SJSU’s Center for Asian Pacific Islander Student Empowerment in the Student Union to welcome a new year.
Students celebrated the Lunar New Year in many different ways during the week.
Hao Le, an engineering technology major, came out for the free boba but embraced the celebration and expressed their appreciation for the culture.
“I’m here for the boba and to hang out with friends,” Le said.“It’s a fun holiday for others, You have a lot of activities that you can do, and learning a new culture is always fun.”
Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival in China, includes Chinese New Year, Seollal in Korea, and Tét in Vietnam, according to a Jan. 28 NBC news article.
Alina Nguyen, a business analytics major, posed in front of a red backdrop featuring the Chinese zodiac alongside a large snake balloon sculpture in the Student Union while wearing áo dài, a traditional Vietnamese dress.
“It is so fun, there are many Vietnamese people, so you are learning how to appreciate cultures, and you get more exposure to different cultures around you,” Nguyen said.
The SJSU Vietnamese Student Association Lion Dance Club danced throughout the Student Union on Wednesday morning from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The Lion Dance goes back about one thousand years is the traditional dance of the Lunar New Year, according to an article by the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project.
The lions express joy and happiness, and the dance features different styles of lion, known as the Northern and Southern Lion, according to the same article.
Jinni Pradhan, the inaugural program director for the Center for Asian Pacific Islander Student Empowerment, helped organize the events.
“The intention was that the students really wanted to see more of their cultures on campus, especially our folks who celebrate the Lunar New Year,” Pradhan said. “So, our folks in the Chinese community, the Vietnamese community, and even the Korean community. Lunar New Year is celebrated in many ways across communities within East Asia and Southeast Asia.”
Lunar New Year is China's biggest holiday celebration. This year it falls between Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, and 2025 marks the ending of the Year of the Dragon, according to an article by the Independent.
This year is the Year of the Snake on the Chinese zodiac calendar, a 12-year cycle represented by animals, according to the same article by the Independent.
The Year of the Snake is all about shedding bad energy. This Lunar New Year, the snake is expected to bring about transformation and new beginnings, according to a Tuesday NBC article.
Emily Tran, a graphic design major, has personal and strong ties to the new year holiday.
“My parents came from Vietnam from the ‘80 (and) ‘90s,” Tran said. “ When Lunar New Year happened, we (got) to have the strongest connections with the culture, we (got) to the temple and talk to family overseas.”
Finishing off the season at SJSU, a Lunar New Year lunch event is planned for Thursday, Jan. 30, from 12-2 p.m. at the Dining Commons, according to a MOSAIC Jan. 23 Instagram post.
“For Vietnamese or Chinese students, it is important to learn about other cultures and how to celebrate them,” Tran said. “There are other calendars like ours, and it’s great acknowledgment and it’s just really fun; firecrackers and lions, and to learn about other cultures.”
