Fullerton College Celebrates Lunar New Year
The college community is invited to a Lunar New Year Celebration on Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 12–2 p.m. in the quad. The event will include activity booths, photo opportunities, and free snacks.
The celebration will bring awareness to the many forms Lunar New Year is celebrated across the world and will introduce students to the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) services and support at the college.
“We know the college has an 11 percent representation of APIDA students. In a time of racial reckoning and anti-Asian violence, the APIDA Advisory & Support Team came together at Fullerton College to show our APIDA students that they are not invisible nor forgotten. We see you, we value you and we hear you!” said Dr. Naomi Abesamis, Director of Student Life and Leadership. “We hope students learn more about the diverse cultures of Asian Pacific Islander and Desi Americans at Lunar New Year and through more forthcoming events to follow this semester!”
Every year, Lunar New Year is celebrated across the globe by millions of people on the first new moon of their calendar. While the tragedy of Monterey Park on Lunar New Year eve still looms heavy for many, APIDA Advisory & Support Team, Associated Students and several campus partners wanted to create an opportunity to heal and celebrate in community by bringing a Lunar New Year Celebration to campus. The event is hosted in collaboration with Student Life and Leadership, the APIA Faculty and Staff Association, Cadena Cultural Center and the President’s Office.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have a new president, Dr. Cynthia Olivo, who shows through her direct actions that she supports advancing visible programs, events, and services for Asian Pacific Islander & Desi American (APIDA) students,” Abesamis said.
During the celebration, students are invited to stop by activity booths hosted by Student Life and Leadership, the APIDA Support & Advisory Team, while the APIA Faculty Staff Association, will hand out Lunar New Year snacks, mochi rice cakes, and eggrolls. APIDA directory booklets and APIA red bags and pens will also be available.
Students who stop by the Associated Students booth will be gifted a red envelope filled with chocolate gold coins and RAD cards. Traditionally, red envelopes are given to children or elders to wish them good luck and fortune for the new year. A photo opportunity with two traditional lion costumes will be available during the event.
Lunar New Year is predominately celebrated in Asian countries and has many different traditions and customs depending on the country celebrating. In China, people refer to the Lunar New Year as Chinese New Year, while in Vietnam, it is referred to as Tết.
This particular Lunar New Year is distinctive because it is one of the few times that one country does not celebrate the same zodiac. Vietnam rang in Lunar New Year as the Year of the Cat while others rang in Lunar New Year as the Year of the Rabbit.
More resources: Fullerton College is eligible for designation as an Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). To support its APIDA students, the Fullerton College APIDA Advisory and Support Team, comprised of Fullerton College APIDA managers, faculty and staff, was created. Members will be available during the event to meet students. For a complete list of members, download a PDF directory of the APIDA Advisory and Support Team brochure.
