Say goodbye to the Year of the Tiger.
The Chinese New Year, which will occur Feb. 3, will usher in the Year of the Rabbit.
Yinyin Zhao, graduate student in mechanical engineering, recently moved from China and enrolled in Auburn this semester.
She said Chinese New Year is the greatest festival for Chinese people.
"In all, Chinese New Year is a day for people to rest after a whole year's work, to get together with families who may not meet very often, to make a New Year's Resolution and to plan for a better year," Zhao said.
Chinese New Year is not a fixed holiday on the Western calendar.
Instead, the holiday depends on the ancient Chinese lunar calendar and falls on a different day each year.
The first new moon of the first month marks Chinese New Year, and a 15-day, work- and school-free celebration ensues.
Tin Man Lau, professor in the College of Architecture, said many subcultures exist, and different groups follow various traditions while celebrating.
Widely recognized activities include greeting elders, giving money in red packets to younger family members, preparing traditional foods and wearing new clothes for good luck.
Other symbolic events include fireworks as well as dragon and lion dances.
Lau, who grew up in Hong Kong, said he does not practice superstitious traditions, such as scaring away a Chinese mythological monster.
He said his wife believes in instilling a sense of Chinese heritage into both of their children.
Mike Wang, a third year graduate student in mechanical engineering and president of the Taiwanese Student Organization, said Taiwanese culture has a tradition of its own when celebrating Chinese New Year.
"Most of us will visit our ancestors' graveyard in the first day of the New Year and remind ourselves that without them, there is no existing of me," Wang said.
The TSO is hosting a Chinese New Year dinner Jan. 29 at 6:30 p.m. in Student Center rooms 2222 and 2223.
Following the dinner, TSO will provide games and a gift exchange.
Students should bring one of their favorite dishes for the dinner and a present for the gift exchange.
In addition, the Chinese Student Organization is hosting a Chinese New Year's evening show Saturday, Feb. 5.
Tickets are $3. A Chinese buffet dinner is included.
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