As freshman Kaya Yuki squeezed onto a couch in the International Student Association lounge Wednesday evening, she was greeted with a hug, laughter and greetings for the new year.
“It’s already the new year there,” she said.
And as Yuki and students from Japan, South Korea, China and Vietnam gathered, friends and families in their native countries had already begun to usher in the Chinese New Year.
Although there are no events at the University today to celebrate the Year of the Monkey, those following the lunar calendar have started a new year — many celebrating with family and friends.
“All the families get together like during Christmas,” senior Min-Gyo Han said. “Kind of like a family reunion.”
Han, a native of South Korea, said it is traditional for families to get together during this time of year.
“The relationship with the family is really important,” he said.
Sophomore Georgia Mu said much of China and Southeast Asia acknowledge the holiday.
“Even though it’s called Chinese New Year, a lot of other cultures celebrate it,” she said. “The Vietnamese call it Tet, and in Korea they celebrate it too.”
Mu said that traditionally, older family members give younger relatives a red envelope with gold Chinese characters because red is a sign of good luck.
Sophomore Ryohei Ishii said that in Japan, the envelope is called the “red pocket,” adding that he usually eats rice cakes on the holiday in addition to a large meal.
Sophomore Runshan Yuan said food is a prominent part of the new year’s celebration.
“We eat all the time,” she said of the day. She added that in China, fish and sweet red rice cake are widely eaten during the day and that many of the dishes have a symbolic meaning.
Yuki shared similar sentiments.
“In the eve we eat a lot,” she said. “On that day we just eat and eat and eat.”
In addition to a large family dinner, Yuki said that in China, the new year’s celebration includes a gambling game called Majiang and the lighting of fireworks at midnight.
“It’s a cultural symbol,” she said. “We make noise to let the bad spirits go so we will have a brand new year.”