East Asian Student Association celebrates Year of the Ram

Sights and sounds of children laughing, fireworks crackling, drums booming, gongs clanging, cups clicking, lanterns flickering, and lions dancing are just a few things witnessed during Lunar New Year.

This is the most celebrated holiday for some countries in Asia, such as China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Malaysia, and Taiwan. Lunar New Year is based on cycles of the moon; therefore the actual date varies from year to year between late January and early February.

The Lunar Calendar, which was introduced by Emperor Huang Ti of China, dates back from 2,600 B.C. A complete cycle takes 60 years and is made up of five cycles of 12 years, with each year named after an animal.

Chinese legend tells of how Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he left earth but only 12 appeared. In return for their loyalty, he rewarded them by naming a year after them.

Other countries also have their own version of how each year was named. This year is the Year of the Ram, and it is believed that the year that a person is born has an immense influence on their personality. Rams are portrayed as being successful compassionate, gentle and peaceful.

Depending on the country, this festive holiday is celebrated anywhere from three days to one month, and almost everybody takes off from work to prepare or join the celebration.

“The one thing I enjoy the most about New Year is being able to celebrate the togetherness with my family and friends,” said Liz Nguyen, president of the East Asian Student Association.

There is plenty of symbolism involved with the New Year. Red in the banners and the specific food created are among the many things that determine the outcome of an individual’s year.

Another Chinese legend explains the beginning of certain traditions from a village, thousands of years ago that was being tormented by a beast. Finally one day, the villagers were fed up and devised a plan. They hung red banners and lanterns, because the color red scared the beast the most. Firecrackers, drums and gongs were used to create loud noises to scare the beast as well. Lion dances were also established because they were believed to repel demons and be good omens.

The times have changed. Red and yellow now represent good luck. The loud noises are used to usher out the old year, and the lion dances are used to welcome the new year or for entertainment purposes.

Prior to the New Year, debts are paid off, differences between family and friends are resolved, homes are cleaned to dust away any bad luck and to start off fresh. During that time, everybody avoids fights or negativity for fear of an unlucky year.

In Vietnam, homes are usually decorated with Hoa Mai, yellow blossoms representing spring or a new beginning. On the other hand, in rural areas of Japan, their homes are adorned with origami cranes and turtles that represent longevity and happiness.

Furthermore, when visiting family members, everybody brings gift baskets of fruits, candies, bottles of wine or tea wrapped in red cellophane. Each type or combination of certain fruits also have a meaning behind it. Oranges and tangerines in the Chinese culture mean wealth and good fortune.

There are numerous traditional games that involve gambling, and the amount won that day predicts the fortune for the New Year. “I looked forward to Tet [Vietnamese New Year] every year, because it gives me a chance to sit around the table with my closest friends and family and gamble the night away,” said Mickey Pham.

Besides the decorations, music, dancing and food, money in red envelopes is another huge factor to why everyone, especially children, look forward to the New Year. Traditionally, children must show respect to their elders by wishing them a prosperous and healthy new year.

Once they do that, adults offer them money in red envelopes. According to Tina Ngo, Vietnamese Student Association webmaster, the best part of the new year is ” money, because it represents good fortune for the rest of the year.”

Not only is this the most celebrated holiday, it is also the most significant event of the year, because everybody stops to make time to reflect on the past year and put it behind, to renew themselves, to find peace and resolution, to give thanks and praise, and most importantly, to recognize the importance of family.

SMU students have a great opportunity to taste, feel, hear and celebrate the Year of the Ram this week in the Hughes Trigg Commons from 12-2 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesday’s event will be held from 5-7 p.m. “Ram in the New Year” is sponsored by EASA. The purpose for the events, other than entertainment, is to spread cultural awareness across the SMU campus, said Tuan Pham, VSA treasurer.

Ram Facts