A Fantastic Cultural Journey: Chinese New Year Celebration
Tina Tuo
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: Inside Ross
Feb. 7, 2008, an ordinary day for most Ross students, is the most important celebration for Chinese students and their 1.3 billion fellows across the Pacific Ocean. In the lunar calendar, the Chinese year number 4706 begins on Feb. 7, 2008. New Year festivities traditionally start on the Eve of New Year's first month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is the brightest. Families reunite, and people pour out their money to buy presents, decorations, food and clothing. The last week put me on a journey to refresh my Chinese culture.
Symbol of Luck, Reunion and Fortune
If you had stepped into business school on Feb 7th, I'm sure you were overwhelmed by the theme of Chinese redness at ER lobby which was decorated with elegant Chinese knots, "Fortune" character paper-cuts, fancy red lanterns, and goodwill couplets.
"The Chinese knot is a historical decorative handicraft art; it originated in the Tang and Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) in China. It has come to be the symbol of reunion, luck, and harmony," said Athena Xie, MBA2, who happily decorated the lobby with other Chinese students. "The red lantern is to warn away evil sprits while brightening the mood with the red glow of good luck."
Andrew Zhang, MBA1, posted the couplets on either side of the entrance to the lobby and explained, "On lunar New Year's Eve, families in both urban and rural areas decorate their gates or apartment doorframes with the customary couplets. The couplet, written on two strips of red paper, is composed of two poetic sentences which match and rhyme with each other to express hopes for the coming year."
Qi Pao - Dress of Charm and Elegance
The stressful interviews and business school life can't hide the charm of Ross Chinese women at all. By noon of Feb 7th, all my attention was drawn by the beautiful Ross Chinese ladies with graceful Qi Pao. Linlin Zhang, MBA1, was excited about her dress. "Qi Pao has evolved over three hundred years. It exhibits the charm, elegance, and neatness of Chinese women, and I like to wear it on formal or semi-formal occasions."
Indeed, a high-necked dress in red, yellow, purple, and other elegant colors, Qi Pao perfectly fits the beautiful figure of Chinese females with distinctive features. The dress is buttoned on the right side, with a loose chest, a fitting waist, and slits on the sides. All of these features combine to enhance the beauty of the female shape. No wonder, Qi Pao is Chinese national apparel and has inspired fashion designers all over the world.
A Ratty Year
Are you a rat? If you were born in 1960, 1972 or 1984, then congratulations! This is your year. The rat is the first of the 12-year cycle in the Chinese Zodiac. Rat people are supposed to be leaders, pioneers, and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious, strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas (which often include money and power). Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, William Shakespeare, and Mozart were all born in the year of the rat.
For those who don't know much about Chinese Zodiac, Chinese astrology has a 12-year cycle of animals of the Chinese Zodiac. The Chinese Zodiac animal signs are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep or goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. It reoccurs every 12 years. People born in the same zodiac year are supposed to embrace some similar personalities and characteristics that make them successful.
A New Year Feast
Jason Yang, MBA2, President of Greater China Association, enjoyed Chinese food in the lobby at noon. The food was from TK Wu, one of the most popular Chinese restaurants at Ann Arbor. "Supper is a feast with all members coming together," Yang recalled. "One of the most popular courses is dumplings boiled in water. After dinner, it is time for the whole family to sit up for the night while having fun playing cards, board games, or watching TV programs dedicated to the occasion. Every light is supposed to be kept on the whole night. At midnight, the whole sky will be lit up by fireworks and firecrackers making everywhere seem like a war zone. People's excitement reaches its zenith."
Cook-Off Competition Winners: Ding Lin (Wife of Mengcao Quan, MBA2), Becca Liu (MBA1), Elsie Pan (MBA2)
Special thanks to all members of Greater China Association & Asian American Business Association for the fantastic cultural offerings!
Symbol of Luck, Reunion and Fortune
If you had stepped into business school on Feb 7th, I'm sure you were overwhelmed by the theme of Chinese redness at ER lobby which was decorated with elegant Chinese knots, "Fortune" character paper-cuts, fancy red lanterns, and goodwill couplets.
"The Chinese knot is a historical decorative handicraft art; it originated in the Tang and Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) in China. It has come to be the symbol of reunion, luck, and harmony," said Athena Xie, MBA2, who happily decorated the lobby with other Chinese students. "The red lantern is to warn away evil sprits while brightening the mood with the red glow of good luck."
Andrew Zhang, MBA1, posted the couplets on either side of the entrance to the lobby and explained, "On lunar New Year's Eve, families in both urban and rural areas decorate their gates or apartment doorframes with the customary couplets. The couplet, written on two strips of red paper, is composed of two poetic sentences which match and rhyme with each other to express hopes for the coming year."
Qi Pao - Dress of Charm and Elegance
The stressful interviews and business school life can't hide the charm of Ross Chinese women at all. By noon of Feb 7th, all my attention was drawn by the beautiful Ross Chinese ladies with graceful Qi Pao. Linlin Zhang, MBA1, was excited about her dress. "Qi Pao has evolved over three hundred years. It exhibits the charm, elegance, and neatness of Chinese women, and I like to wear it on formal or semi-formal occasions."
Indeed, a high-necked dress in red, yellow, purple, and other elegant colors, Qi Pao perfectly fits the beautiful figure of Chinese females with distinctive features. The dress is buttoned on the right side, with a loose chest, a fitting waist, and slits on the sides. All of these features combine to enhance the beauty of the female shape. No wonder, Qi Pao is Chinese national apparel and has inspired fashion designers all over the world.
A Ratty Year
Are you a rat? If you were born in 1960, 1972 or 1984, then congratulations! This is your year. The rat is the first of the 12-year cycle in the Chinese Zodiac. Rat people are supposed to be leaders, pioneers, and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious, strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas (which often include money and power). Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, William Shakespeare, and Mozart were all born in the year of the rat.
For those who don't know much about Chinese Zodiac, Chinese astrology has a 12-year cycle of animals of the Chinese Zodiac. The Chinese Zodiac animal signs are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep or goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. It reoccurs every 12 years. People born in the same zodiac year are supposed to embrace some similar personalities and characteristics that make them successful.
A New Year Feast
Jason Yang, MBA2, President of Greater China Association, enjoyed Chinese food in the lobby at noon. The food was from TK Wu, one of the most popular Chinese restaurants at Ann Arbor. "Supper is a feast with all members coming together," Yang recalled. "One of the most popular courses is dumplings boiled in water. After dinner, it is time for the whole family to sit up for the night while having fun playing cards, board games, or watching TV programs dedicated to the occasion. Every light is supposed to be kept on the whole night. At midnight, the whole sky will be lit up by fireworks and firecrackers making everywhere seem like a war zone. People's excitement reaches its zenith."
Cook-Off Competition Winners: Ding Lin (Wife of Mengcao Quan, MBA2), Becca Liu (MBA1), Elsie Pan (MBA2)
Special thanks to all members of Greater China Association & Asian American Business Association for the fantastic cultural offerings!
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Losing Weight
posted 2/15/08 @ 4:17 AM EST
In China, they do not have Thankgiving and Christmas. So it sounds similar to what Americans do on Thanksgiving. That is when Americans are supposed to give thanks and spend the evening with their family. (Continued…)
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blackjack gambling
posted 9/09/08 @ 5:06 AM EST
blackjack gambling
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