How to go
What: Chinese New Year celebration
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Where: Dave Finkelman Auditorium, Miami University Middletown, 4200 N. University Blvd.
Cost: Free
MIDDLETOWN — To hear the Chinese tell it, we celebrate New Year’s about a month early.
That’s why, for the very first time, Miami University Middletown will host a Chinese New Year celebration at 6 p.m. on Friday, “Its really just a great Chinese new year celebration to ring in the new year,” said Janis Toennisson, director of public affairs at Miami University Middletown.
The performances, presented by students from the Hua Xia School in Mason, will begin at 7:30 p.m. with a Chinese line dance.
“People will wear costumes and they will portray a line with vibrancy, power, and happiness,” said Chen Ferguson, regional director of international programs at Miami University. Ferguson is organizing the event.
Toennisson oted that there are 11 exchange students at the Miami regional campuses from China and those students will play a large role in the celebration.
“This is a great way to learn something about their culture,” she said.
A large photo display of those students’ hometowns will be placed in the lobby outside the theatre, she said.
Although the celebration is new to the Middletown campus, Ferguson said she organized a Chinese New Year celebration at the Hamilton campus last year, which was a great success.
Ferguson said it’s important for the exchange students to “reach out to the community and enrich local cultural life.”
“Basically, we are going to show Chinese New year traditions with explanations, “ she said.
During the cultural element of the event, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a photo display, a zodiac display, and a folk art demonstration. Guests can also get a taste of China through a Chinese dumpling-making demonstration. “You can watch them and then you can eat them too,” Toennisson said of the dumpling demonstration.
Guests are also encouraged to get their names translated during the event.
Ferguson said the Chinese New Year, which signifies good luck and fortune, is based on a lunar calendar.
“Each year has a different animal— this year will be rabbit,” she said.
The festivities, which are sponsored by the Center for American and World Cultures at Miami University in Oxford, will begin at 6 p.m. in Dave Finkelman Auditorium.
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