Different from the typical western New Year’s celebration, the Chinese New Year celebration lasts for 15 days! When does it end? It ends with the Chinese Lantern Festival (Yuánxiāo jié in Chinese) which is the 15th day of the first month in the Chinese lunar calendar. During the Chinese Lantern Festival, children go out at night carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns. Families gather together to enjoy the beautiful lantern shows and the first full moon of the year. Food always makes the celebration better! The Chinese usually eat sweet glutinous rice balls (Yuánxiāo jié in Chinese) on the Chinese Lantern Festival. Moreover, the Chinese Lantern Festival was also the original Valentine’s Day, because a long time ago the young Chinese used to use this festival as the best excuse to be with their crush.

To celebrate the end of the Chinese New Year, visit the Taiwanese American Student Association (TASA) table at the Study Abroad Fair Tuesday, February 19 in the Attallah Piazza from 10AM-2PM. There will be a lantern craft, opportunities to learn more about the Lantern Fesitval, snacks, and more! Professor Chao, instructor for the Chinese program at Chapman, will also be giving information about the upcoming summer 2019 travel course to Taiwan.

Learn more about the Chinese New Year from Professor Jia Wenshan in CGTN America.