A great way to gain an appreciation for different cultures is to learn how to value diverse perspectives. Asking questions and being open-minded are both helpful too.

The Lunar New Year, a Chinese festival that celebrates the start of the new year on the traditional Chinese calendar, is celebrated by millions of Americans. On Thursday, February 7, Roanoke College will be hosting a celebration from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the school’s Wortmann Ballroom.

Throughout the event, guests will have the opportunity to learn how to build crafts, participate in popular Korean songs, join in on a Chinese holiday feast and see some student presentations about their service abroad experience.

Everyone who attends will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a colorful Chinese calendar.

Twelve Chinese zodiac animals symbolize a variety of fortunes. A different animal is celebrated each year, and 2019 is the Year of the Pig, which represents wealth and prosperity. It starts on Tuesday, February 5, and ends on January 24, 2020.

“Just like Christmas in the United States, Lunar New Year is the day that the whole family and extended family will try to get together and celebrate,” Stella Xu, a Roanoke College Associate Professor of History for East Asian Studies, said. “Lunar New Year is the biggest holiday in many Asian countries.”

Approximately 70 undergraduates make up the current Roanoke College student body. Last year, six of them received a national research grant worth $40,000 for a three-week trip to South Korea. Only seven other colleges in the country received the same grant.

“The issue of North Korea is not only about the nuclear safety, but more about the peace for East Asia and global world,” said Professor Xu in April 2018. “With the promising step for a peace treaty 65 years after the Korean War, there is a chance we can cautiously talk about the real ending of the Cold War. I am so happy for our students to have the opportunity to witness the historic moments in Korea and be more proactive in global sensitivity.”

When asked what she enjoys most about being a faculty fellow at Roanoke College, Professor Xu said, “People are very nice, colleagues are very supportive of each other and students are interested in learning.”

She added, “This Lunar New Year event is not just for the campus, it is for everyone. It is intended to promote cultural diversity and global awareness. We  hope to share cultural diversity and our students’ achievements with the Salem community.”

For more information, visit roanoke.edu/events.