This Wednesday the Chinese Department hosted a celebration of the Chinese New Year in Kemper Auditorium. After Chinese Department Chair Yuan Han wished the audience a happy new lunar year, each Chinese class performed an act. The first to perform was the Chinese 220 class. In this skit, Mia Kanak ’06 acted as a Chinese teacher, while her “students” performed various skits on one dialogue. The next performance was named “The Zodiac Race.” It retold the traditional legend about the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac crossing a river.The Chinese 300 class performed a song entitled “Qing Fei De Yi,” or “Love that You Cannot Help.” Chinese 400 acted out the 21st Scene in “Monty Python,” with Wesley Mui ’06 portraying King Arthur. “A Runaway of Rice Cake,” performed by the Chinese 500 class, featured a poor family celebrating the Chinese New Year. Through chasing their only food for New Year’s Eve, a rice cake, they came to know the importance of cooperation and harmony. The god of food, acted by Dr. Han, then granted the family a rich feast. A member of the Chinese 120 class sang the famous Chinese pop song “The Girl Looking Over.” Many in the audience sand along with the performance. Chris Li ’07 and Olivia Pei ’07’s sang the song “Tornado.” The show ended with Chinese 400 performing “The Iron Chef” and the Chinese 100 class dancing to “Jolin.” During the intervals between performances, a raffle was drawn. Each member of the audience received a ticket upon entering the auditorium. The winners of the raffle received Chinese artwork and, according the Chinese tradition, luck in the upcoming year. This New Year celebration was the last at PA for Dr. Han, who will be retiring at the end of this school year. His students presented him with a card of signatures and wishes. “His inspiring teaching has influenced me a lot during my four years here at Andover.” said co-emcee of the show Brittany Kaiser ’05. This traditional festival, also called the Spring Festival, celebrates the coming of spring. It is based on an ancient Chinese calendar, the lunar calendar. Therefore, the New Year’s Day is on a different day every year, but always falls between the end of January and the beginning of February. This New Year is also celebrated in Korea, Japan and other East Asian countries. The traditional celebration of Chinese New Year officially begins on New Year’s Eve, when the family gathers together for dinner and eats “Jiao Zi” – dumplings. People normally dress in red, the color of happiness and good luck. At midnight, people (especially the children), go outside and let off fireworks, which are supposed to ward off evil spirits, bringing good luck to the upcoming New Year. On the next day, people put on new clothes, and visit friends and relatives to wish them happiness and good luck in the New Year. The exchange of gifts between adults is not required. However, children receive “red packets” containing money from their elders.
