California Baptist University celebrated Lunar New Year with a vibrant evening event on Jan. 31, ushering in the Year of the Snake. Students gathered in the plaza, eager to take part in the festivities, with the first 200 attendees receiving free boba from Tim Boba, a local shop popular among the campus community.
Silence fell upon the crowd as performances began, showcasing traditional dances such as Yuguangqu (渔光曲), Dayu (大鱼) and the Dragon Dance. The music echoed throughout the plaza as the audience gasped and gazed at the performances, presented in part by the International Center at CBU.
Tables were set up inside and outside of Community Life to entertain students and showcase traditional games associated with Lunar New Year and Asian cultures. After the performances, two tables filled with popular snacks and various versions of ramen lined the entrance to Community Life.
Volunteers staffed different stations, ready to share their culture with CBU students. Many attended to celebrate and learn, while students from the International Center appreciated experiencing a small piece of home.
For Sirui (Annalee) Wang, junior biochemistry and molecular biology major, celebrating at CBU provided that connection to home.
“I’m from China, and Lunar New Year is one of the biggest—no, it is the biggest national holiday for us. Since I am in the States and not able to be with my family during this time, I think this event really makes me feel like there’s a little corner of home in this foreign country,” Wang said.
Wang spoke about how Lunar New Year is celebrated across different cultures and what it meant to see students at CBU joining in the celebration.
“I’m able to celebrate it with the rest of the Chinese students here, or Koreans, or Malaysians—whoever all celebrate this holiday together. And also with the rest of the campus. I’m glad to let them see our culture and celebrate it together,” Wang said.
Students filled Community Life, participating in traditional games and activities, including majiang, a dumpling competition, pattern riddles, Chinese knot tying, gonggi, pitch-pot and jianzi.
Wang helped at the booth teaching students how to tie Chinese knots, laughing and smiling as students struggled while she made it look effortless.
“I just feel really honored and celebrated,” Wang said. “I’m just happy to see people who don’t know the culture or have an interest in culture coming and having fun together—to get to know that this is a part of China.”
Courtney Watson, senior director of International Student and Scholar Services at CBU, explained the purpose of the event and its significance for International Center students.
“The International Center specifically tries to host events that showcase cultures from which we have a lot of students around the world. We have many students from China and cultures that celebrate Lunar New Year, so we see this as an opportunity for them to show off a taste of home but also to experience a little bit of home so far away,” Watson said.
The International Center’s celebration also resonated with students from out of state who were away from their families. Abigail Sumida, sophomore biomedical engineering major, found it to be a meaningful way to stay connected to her culture.
“I think it’s a good chance for other people to experience the culture and just something different. Also, because I’m not from California, I couldn’t go home for [Lunar New Year], which has always been kind of big in my family. So it was nice to at least be able to see my culture and everything since I can’t be home to experience it,” Sumida said.
The Lunar New Year event continued with students playing games as echoes of laughter and photo ops filled the evening. Watson shared what the event meant to her.
“Part of the event is seeing our students, who come from cultures that celebrate Lunar New Year, get excited about showing off their culture. Whether they’re dancing, singing, playing an instrument in the performances, or volunteering for some of the activities, it’s just so fun to see them get really excited about it,” Watson said.
CBU’s International Center works to make students feel at home by hosting cultural events throughout the year.
“If students are looking for a place to connect or want a place to show off their culture, I would encourage them to stop by, email us or see how they can get involved. We love putting on events that make students feel at home,” Watson said.
For more information and updates on other events, the International Center can be found at Lancer Arms, Office 56, or on Instagram @CBU_IC.
