New Year enters with a roar

Welcome to the Year of the Dragon.

Monday marked the first day of

Chinese New Year. The celebration consists of 15 days that commemorate good health,

prosperity and good luck for the new year.

The celebration of Chinese New Year is a very special event that some believe is

intended to create a new start and send away bad luck from the previous year. It is an important holiday in Chinese culture that is widely celebrated to bring everyone

abundance throughout the year.

The celebration includes dancing, singing, a dragon-figure performance, fireworks and plenty of food.

Chinese New Year follows the lunar

calendar and uses the 12 Chinese Zodiacs to represent the name of the new year. 

The dragon is an important animal in

Chinese culture because, according to

folklore, they believe they are descendants of the dragon. 

"This is the reason why there are

dragon dancing and performances during the

celebration," said professor Dahe Lu, who teaches Chinese language courses.

 "The Chinese New Year is very important in the Chinese culture and on the eve of the new year, traditionally, the family members will all gather together to have a reunion

dinner. A dish that is common during the dinner is a whole-cooked fish that represents prosperity toward the new year and is important during the

celebration," said Lu.

To welcome the start of the new year, it is important to wish good luck to friends, family, co-workers and your boss.

Older generations give red envelopes with money to the younger family members to wish them wealth and

prosperity into the year.

Bistro B, a local restaurant on Walnut Street, is decorated for the Year of the Dragon and serves traditional Asian

cuisine.

Although the celebration for Chinese New Year has already begun, patrons can join in the celebration at any time during the festival.