Happy Lunar New Year—the Year of the Tiger!
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is proud to announce its support and recognition for one of the largest celebrations by many different Asian cultures. The holiday, which officially begins today, Tuesday, Feb. 1, welcomes the new year by ushering in hope, prosperity and good fortune, while leaving negativity and misfortune behind. In addition to marking the beginning of the lunar calendar, Lunar New Year also follows the Zodiac cycle, with this being the Year of the Tiger.
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has partnered with the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association to bring you an event to celebrate this most auspicious holiday. Come join us for fun activities as we experience a variety of Asian cultures, customs and foods. Our celebration of Asian cultures will be held from 2-4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, in the atrium outside Watanakunakorn Auditorium. The event is free, and all are welcome.
Lunar New Year Facts
More than 1.5 billion people celebrate Lunar New Year each year with traditions and activities to welcome a new year with wishes for luck and prosperity.
It’s also commonly known as the Spring Festival
Because the holiday marks the end of the coldest days in the winter solstice, you’ll often hear Chinese Lunar New Year referred to as the Spring Festival, or Chunjie. People embrace the spring and its many delights, like planting, harvests and the symbol of new beginnings.
Lunar New Year never falls on a fixed date
It follows the lunar calendar, which is based on how long it takes the Moon to orbit the Earth. As a result, this means that the date for Lunar New Year varies – unlike a Western holiday like Christmas, which always falls on the same day.
Lunar New Year is a festival rich in traditions and customs.
Traditionally, Lunar New Year celebrations last for 16 days, from New Year's Eve through the Lantern Festival. The preparations start as early as a month beforehand, including sweeping of the home to clean away any misfortune and bad luck and the posting of red couplets (poetic verses written on red paper) for good luck. The highlights come on New Year's Eve and the first day of the Lunar New Year, when people set off fireworks and firecrackers, perform dragon dances and lion dances, and give red envelopes with money to children and anyone who's unmarried as a way to send good wishes.
NEOMED’s strong commitment to creating an atmosphere that promotes and celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion not only enriches the cultural understanding of the entire University community, but also serves as a foundation to create transformational leaders.
Regards,
Andre Burton, J.D.
Vice President for Human Resources and Diversity
Office of the President