The Asian Studies Program and International Students Program have collaborated to host the third annual Chinese New Year Celebration Event. It took place Feb.4, in building four at the Multi-Cultural Center at 11:30 a.m. as club members set up decorative New Year window grilles, lanterns and posters with the animal of the year –the horse. Meanwhile, other students were setting up the food outside for sale providing pot stickers, egg rolls, BBQ Pork buns and dim sum.

The celebration began with Hui Pate, coordinator of the Asian Studies Center and Professor of Business, explaining the myth of the Chinese tradition for having an animal represent each year and its purpose.

Soon after, Siwen Yang, Student Advisor of the Skyline International Affairs Student Club, made a presentation of the customs and traditions the Chinese do every year for New Years. Some traditions include wearing the colors red, gold and black. Red representing prosperity, gold representing wealth and black representing youth. These colors are very meaningful to the culture and are generously worn for the celebration.Another tradition is fireworks and firecrackers. They were traditionally used to scare away monsters but today it is a sign of joy and glory.

There was also a game for the event; it’s called “Beating the drum while passing the Panda.” People gather in a circle and pass the panda holding all the riddles. When the drum stops beating, the one holding the panda must take out a piece of paper with a riddle on it. If the person gets the correct answer for the riddle, they win a red envelope containing a prize. If not, the person must improvise some type of act. Honor’s Club President, Alex Reyes, participated in the game,

“This game is simple but it’s fun as well,” Reyes said. “It’s a good game for socializing, good vibes and good thinking.”

To end the celebration, they played the movie “12 zodiac,” with Jackie Chan while some other students gathered in the room next door to learn to write in Chinese characters.

The event is important to the Skyline students because many are of Chinese descent and many others are interested in and enjoy Chinese culture.

The Chinese community in Skyline College will expand this summer semester. Professors Hui Pates and James Wong will be conducting a Chinese immersion camp for two weeks focusing on Chinese language, calligraphy, kung fu, culture, business culture and business practice. This will be the first time opening this course (BUS 665) and it will be worth 1.5 units.