The New Year may be almost a month in the past for most students, but others are getting ready to celebrate it for the first time.
The 4th annual Chinese New Year Festival will be held Saturday at The University Center and Rose Theater.
Qui Hong Zhou, entertainment coordinator for the event, has been hard at work preparing for the festivities.
"We started planning last September for the New Year", he said.
The first day of the year 4704, the year of the dog, will fall on Jan. 29. According to Chinese legend, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on New Years day. Only twelve came and he named a year and gave humans some of the characteristics from each of them.
There will be three main parts to this year's celebration. A photography exhibit of China will take place in the University Center throughout the day.
A stage performance at 2 p.m. and 7p.m. will feature traditional and contemporary Chinese music and dance in the Rose Theater.
Immediately following the 2 p.m. stage performance, there will be a food sampling and entertainment at The University Center from 4p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be ballroom dancing, karaoke, finger food from local Chinese restaurants, Chinese movies and videos and arts and crafts.
Juan Juan Cao, geo physics graduate student, will be a part of the on campus New Years action.
"I am volunteering and preparing food," she said. "The dancing and food is my favorite part of New Years."
"When I was young, I would get money for the New Year," recalled Pixy Lioa, photography student.
"The dumplings and hot pot are my favorite foods during New Years," she said.
According to Zhou, the festival is not just for the Chinese community.
"For non-Chinese, this will be an opportunity to see authentic Chinese shows and dress. The festival also promotes cultural exchange," Zhou said.
Tickets are required to attend the stage performances. For ticket information call 901-452-0188 or visit the festival website at www.cnyf.memphischinese.com.
