Students from the DePaul Chinese studies program and the International Students Organization will celebrate the Chinese New Year Feb. 11 with Chinatown residents and representatives from the Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute. The New Year, or Spring Festival, celebrates the renewal of the lunar calendar and is arguably the most important celebration in Chinese culture. The large celebration on campus embraces the tradition known to more than 400 Chinese international students currently enrolled at DePaul.

The DePaul Chinese studies program hosts a Chinese New Year Gala every year, in which students and professionals take part in cultural performances. Last year’s gala featured an experienced player of the erhu, a two-stringed classical Chinese instrument. There was also a Lion Dance, which features a two-person dragon costume.

This year’s gala will kick off with a New Year’s address by Fr. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., followed by an authentic Chinese dinner with food brought straight from Chinatown. Then attendants will be entertained with Chinese music, a Lion Dance and a Kung Fu performance.

Li Jin, Chinese section head at DePaul and an assistant professor, organized the Chinese New Year Gala.

“DePaul enrolled many, many Chinese students from China, so we want to give them a chance to show their talent,” said Jin.

Jin came to America 12 years ago, but she still remembers her Spring Festival celebration in China.

“(It) was like a family reunion,” said Jin. “You have a feast, you have different kind of fireworks to celebrate and relax.”

DePaul freshman Yadian Luo is from Hangzhou, a southeastern city in China. During the Spring Festival, Luo normally visits her grandparents and cooks dumplings while watching a TV special called the “Chunwan.” Her family then plays Mahjong and enjoys their family time.

Luo’s favorite part of Spring Festival is the “lucky money” tradition. Every year, the family gives red envelopes of money to the children and anyone who is unmarried. The red envelopes contain gifts that Chinese youth anticipate every year.

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, freshman Chinese studies student Clark Fox will perform in DePaul’s festival in the Student Center and eat traditional Chinese food with his parents in Chinatown.

The Chinese lunar calendar rotates in 12-year cycles, and an animal important to Chinese culture characterizes each year. The Year of the Dragon characterized 2012, and Feb. 10 begins the Year of the Snake.

Jamie Rutter, a Chinese studies and public relations and advertising student who graduated in 2012, currently works for the Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute and spent a summer studying in Shanghai. Rutter explained that the Chinese New Year marks the end of winter and beginning of spring, or planting season. This tradition comes from the time when China was primarily an agricultural society.

“According to legend, a monster would come attack a village every year at the beginning of spring,” said Rutter. “The different ways the villagers scared off the monster and celebrated have become traditions for the holiday.”

Wearing red and igniting fireworks wards off these mythical beasts and became staples in the Chinese celebration.

Jin said last year’s Year of the Dragon was particularly special.

“(Dragons) are a symbol of authority, a symbol of the sky, of God,” said Jin. “All Chinese rulers consider themselves descendants of the dragon. The dragon symbol carries special cultural meaning.”

DePaul Chinese studies and economics student John Hackett also emphasized the power of the dragon in Chinese culture.

“The emperors in ancient China would wear the (dragon) symbol on their robes, and nobody else was allowed to wear the dragon on their clothing, or else that would be seen as challenging the emperor,” said Hackett. “(The dragon) is a huge symbol of power. It’s a masculine thing.”

Rutter said the Year of the Snake will have a different meaning. In Chinese culture, the little cousin of the dragon is considered cunning and graceful, but also dark and possessive.

“You must follow certain superstitions to have good luck this year,” said Rutter.