The event started with a vibrant and energetic traditional lion dance, performed by the members of the Ane Thanh Lion Dance Company. This group has performed for hundreds of events all across Southern California. As the performers playfully interacted with the crowd, they were captivated by their movements to the beats of the drums and cymbals.
Fullerton College welcomed the start of the spring semester with a lively Lunar New Year celebration. The event took place on Tuesday, Feb. 4 in front of Cruz Reynoso Hall and was hosted by the APIDA staff (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American).
“I think it is so cool to be able to get a glimpse of another culture and see the unique ways they celebrate special occasions,” said first-year student Fiorella Hernandez. “I also really enjoyed watching the lion dance.”
Lunar New Year is one of the most significant holidays celebrated in many Asian cultures. It’s a time for families to get together, to honor their ancestors and to celebrate new beginnings. Festivities that are a part of the celebration involve many traditions, such as lion dances, a dragon dance, exchanges of red envelopes filled with money symbolizing good luck.
The event also featured a chance for students to create their own terrarium in collaboration with OCAPICA (Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance). “We were thrilled that OCAPICA was willing and able to do a terrarium workshop with us! We solidified agreements with our excellent campus community partners to table with us,” said Kar, a faculty member in the Ethnic Studies Department in an email to The Hornet.
The event featured a variety of booths offering programs, resources, and support services to help students begin the semester strong.
“We wanted to do this early in the spring term to align with the actual LNY date and provide our students with early access to campus support and resources before their semester gets too chaotic,” said Kar in an email to The Hornet.
“Lunar New Year is important to many APIDA communities. Since FC is an AANAPISI and APIDA-designated institution, we want our students to feel seen, heard and valued and to know that staff, management, support services, and faculty are there for them,” said Kar in an email to The Hornet.
