March 7, 2013 | Max Sinton '15 (CANR)

Vietnamese, Chinese Student Associations Celebrate Lunar New Year in Style

Students recently observed the start of the Lunar New Year with a celebration in the Student Union.

Members of the Hong Tinh Duong Lion Dance Team perform at the Lunar New Years Celebration at the Student Union on March1, 2013. (Max Sinton/UConn Photo)

Members of the Hong Tinh Duong Lion Dance Team perform at the Lunar New Years Celebration at the Student Union on March1, 2013. (Max Sinton/UConn Photo)

Members of the Hong Tinh Duong Lion Dance Team perform at the Lunar New Years Celebration at the Student Union on March1, 2013. (Max Sinton/UConn Photo)
Members of the Hong Tinh Duong Lion Dance Team performed at the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Student Union on March 1. (Max Sinton ’15 (CANR)/UConn Photo)

UConn’s Vietnamese Student Association and the Chinese Undergraduate Student Association recently celebrated the start of the Lunar New Year with an evening that included a lion dance, live musical and martial arts performances, and lots of tasty food.

A musical performance by Tang and Mychi was a highlight of the Lunar New Year Celebration. (Max Sinton '15 (CANR)/UConn Photo)
A musical performance by Tang and Mychi was a highlight of  the Lunar New Year Celebration. (Max Sinton ’15 (CANR)/UConn Photo)

Followers of the Chinese Zodiac celebrate 2013 as the Year of the Snake, and those born under its sign (including the years 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, and 2013) are said to be keen and cunning, quiet, intelligent, and wise.

The Vietnamese New Year, more commonly known as Tết, is the most important popular holiday in Vietnam and is celebrated on the same day as the Chinese New Year. For many, the Lunar New Year is associated with spring, and the day is marked with family gatherings and festive activities.

Traditional food is served at the Lunar New Years Celebration at the Student Union on March1, 2013. (Max Sinton '15 (CANR)/UConn Photo)
Traditional food was served at the Lunar New Year Celebration. (Max Sinton ’15 (CANR)/UConn Photo)
Members of T-Huskies give a Tae Kwon Do demonstration at the Lunar New Years Celebration at the Student Union on March1, 2013. (Max Sinton '15 (CANR)/UConn Photo)
Members of T-Huskies demonstrated  Tae Kwon Do. (Max Sinton ’15 (CANR)/UConn Photo)

 

 

 

 

 

Members of the Hong Tinh Duong Lion Dance Team perform at the Lunar New Years Celebration at the Student Union on March1, 2013. (Max Sinton '15 (CANR)/UConn Photo)
The brightly colored costumes featured in the Lion Dance are always a highlight of the Lunar New Year celebration. (Max Sinton ’15 (CANR)/UConn Photo)