CBU celebrates the Lunar New Year

Riverside, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2024)— Exotic rhythms, colorful lights and delicious smells filled the Community Life Lounge at California Baptist University for the Lunar New Year event on Feb. 7.

The International Center staff transformed the space with Asian decorations such as Chinese lanterns, Fu characters (Chinese symbols) and red money envelopes to mark the year of the dragon. 

The Lunar New Year, which began Feb. 10, celebrates a holiday that is important to many of CBU’s international students. The event was open to all students.

"I am excited for our students from Asian countries to show off their traditions,” said Courtney Watson, director of international student and scholar services. “We have a lot of student performers, and I am excited to see what they share and to give us a little taste of their own culture right here at CBU." 

The event provided opportunities for students to enjoy music performances, taekwondo practices, calligraphy symbols and Asian snacks, such as boba pudding, grilled seaweed rolls and dried tofu.

"I love celebrating East Asian culture. My favorite part was the lion dancing and the dragon dancing," said Vance Brown, an international studies senior. 

Haoquan Wang, a kinesiology junior, wrote names in Chinese for students who attended.

"The event is super good! I like doing calligraphy, and I am taking part in the first dance," he said. 

"I feel like I am back home for this festival," said Sirui Wang, a biochemistry and molecular biology sophomore, who is from China.