York University’s Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics (DLLL) celebrates the Chinese New Year as part of the World Cultures Celebrations initiative to recognize and respect cultural diversities and festivals around the world.

The Chinese New Year celebrates the beginning of the Chinese lunar calendar to honor deities and ancestors. This festival is widely rejoiced in China and in Chinese diasporic communities around the world. In 2020, the Chinese New Year begins on Jan. 25, which kicks off the “Year of the Rat.” Traditional customs include family reunion dinners, lion dancing, fire crackers, red envelops, paper cutting and couplets with blessings of good health and fortune.

A display to celebrate Chinese New Year is open to the York University community until Feb. 7

The Chinese Program has mounted elaborative decorations and narratives in the DLLL office, in S580 Ross building, to present the traditions, customs and festivities of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese language instructors, Alice Bo Dong, Gang Pan, Karen Xiaoning Shi and Shu-ying Tsau, worked together with their students to put up this very informative and pictorial display.

“The mounting of the Chinese New Year display organized by the Chinese program provided significant experiential education opportunities to students to learn about the symbolic meaning and cultural practices of this important Chinese festival,” said Professor Jessica Tsui-yan Li, coordinator of the Chinese Program. “The students not only reflected on their life experience about the Chinese New Year, but also formed a tight-knit learning community on campus that fostered their sense of belonging to York University community, a memorable and unique experience as York graduates.”

This display is free and open to the entire York University community and will be accessible during business hours from now until Friday Feb. 7.