The celebration of the Chinese New Year is one of, if not themost important days of the year in Chinese culture, both in Asiaand across the world. To celebrate, SMU is doing its part to bringsome of the spirit and traditions of this holiday to campus.

“[This] is the time for Chinese people to celebrate thenew year within the whole family and get ready for the comingyear’s work,” said Chinese Student Union President andengineering graduate student Tian Qi Zhao. “It has a historyof hundreds of years.”

SMU is hosting two events in order to introduce the Mustangs tosome of the festivities that will happen this week on the otherside of the globe. The first of these will be a series of classeson Chinese calligraphy.

The art of Chinese calligraphy has a history of thousands ofyears, lasting many dynasties. It was as a form of correspondence,however, that calligraphy was first used in ancient Chinesesocieties.

“In the old days, calligraphy was used to write andcommunicate,” Chinese professor Lisa Ahnert said. “But[today], people don’t write characters or communicate withChinese brushing, so really the Chinese calligraphy by using brushis more of an art form.”

During the peak of Chinese civilization known as the Tangdynasty (618-905 A.D.), calligraphy was one of five skillsnecessary to become a leader in ancient society, along withpainting, music, chess and archery.

This art form was such a crucial talent more than 1,000 yearsago because “Chinese civilization puts an emphasis oneducation, and part of that process is writing.

Calligraphy is related to literature, and classical literaturewas always used as an examination tool to advance yourself,”Ahnert said. “So calligraphy is very important, and peoplejudge you by how well you write.”

An important thing for students to know is that calligraphy isan abstract art form, Ahnert said.

“You don’t need to know the characters to appreciateart, just like you don’t need to know why Picasso paintedthis way. It’s more about the beauty, the shape, the strengthof the calligraphy.”

To try to understand this subject, the SMU Chinese Club wishesto invite everyone to explore the basic topics of calligraphy withThomas Yu, a well-known calligrapher in Dallas.

Yu will go over the sitting position, how to hold a brush, howto move a brush, how to use a brush and how to practice.

Yu will be teaching calligraphy classes at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and1 p.m. on Friday. From 12 – 1 p.m., students will have theopportunity to receive their Chinese name or good greeting words incalligraphic form.

All events will take place in Portico A of the Hughes-TriggStudent Center.

In addition, SMU will host the annual spring festival, which hasa long history of being the most significant festival in China,Zhao said.

“This celebration is really valuable for Chinese studentsto have a feeling of being at home during this important holiday.For Americans and other international students, we want you toshare our culture,” she said.

The spring festival will include a plethora of events gearedtoward introducing the atmosphere of the new year in China toDallas.

Among the festivities is the Peacock dance, focusing on what isconsidered one of the most beautiful of all animals.

The “Chinese piano” will also be played, and it issaid to be able to relay the best music for releasing stress, and a15-minute fashion show, displaying traditional Chinese fashions onstudent models will also be held.

In addition to these events, a break dance, short film andviolin performance are also part of the entertainment, which willlast an hour and a half.

The spring festival will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 31 inMcFarlin Auditorium.

Both the Chinese calligraphy event and spring festival are freeof charge.