ACA Welcomes the Year of the Snake
By Haley Zeller, Arts & Entertainment Editor
After six years since the last occurrence, Susquehanna honored the Lunar New Year festival with a celebration on Saturday, February 1. Warmly put together by the Asian Cultural Association (ACA), Miss Li lian Schultz at the Hawk Hub, and for so many more, the celebration was extremely memorable, and it gave many attendees a long-awaited feeling of home.
The night kicked off with speeches from the executive board of the ACA, including the President Kiara De Silva, Vice President Katie Murray, and Treasurer Brianna Le. Together, they thanked those involved in the event, voiced the values and excitement of the club, and illustrated the significance and history of Lunar New Year.
The guests were then called up to enjoy a dinner prepared by dining services, who used recipes provided by the executives of ACA to bring these celebratory Asian dishes to life! There was steamed chicken, sweet and sour fish fillets, white rice and dumplings, the customary longevity noodles, and tangyuan, a sweet, syrupy dessert.
After everyone enjoyed a delicious meal, Kiara, Katie, and Brianna passed out red envelopes to each guest. As Katie explained, the red envelopes are a symbol of prosperity and kind wishes for the new year, gifted to family and friends. Typically, the envelopes contain cash or dollar coins, but the ACA filled them with chocolate coins to show their appreciation.
The night did not end with dinner. Two performances followed up in welcoming the new year and showing appreciation for Chinese traditions. The first was a dance performance by Atlee, Abby, and Addison, three dancers who have been working together for many years at Enterline’s Dance Center. They had to learn a new style of dance, which incorporates traditional Chinese dance fused with western styles, in order for their performance of “Promenade of the Maidens.” It was an elegant, flowing dance that emanated the belief of new beginnings and good fortune in the new year.
The second performance was a viola duet by Katie Murray and Tess Aumanm, who have been playing the instrument for about ten years each and are both involved in the Susquehanna University Orchestra. The first song in their performance is titled, “Mò Lì Huā,” or Jasmine Flower. The piece is a beloved Chinese folk song that eludes time, as it has been passed down throughout the centuries. The second song was composed by Alexa Sharkey from Harleysville, PA. “Dà Yú” is a song inspired by the film Big Fish and Begonia, and it seeks to capture the beauty of Chinese storytelling in the form of music.
Before the night came to its conclusion, the ACA enthusiastically put on a fashion show, highlighting five countries and their culturally significant outfits. The first to be introduced was the Áo Dài from Vietnam, worn by Katie and Kimoy. This elegant tunic is worn for important events and celebrations, adorned with vibrant designs and embellishments. Next was the representation of Sri Lanka and the Redde and Hatte, a two-piece traditional dress. Kiara dressed in the Redde, a wrap-around cloth to adorn the waist, and the Hatte, a comfortable linen blouse with simplistic yet beautiful designs.
For the third outfit, alumnus Liyu He returned to visit. She wore a Qipao, a traditional, silk dress from China. The red fabric of the dress symbolizes good luck, and the intricate embroidery showcases the elegance of this Chinese women’s outfit. The fourth was a representation of the Philippines by Fernando and Jasmine. Fernando wore a Barong Tagalog, which is an embroidered shirt and the formal, national dress for Filipino men. Jasmine wore the baro’t saya, which, like the Barong Tagalog, is the Philippines traditional outfit for women. It is composed of a blouse and a long skirt, which is made with piña cloth.
The final outfit exhibited was a traditional piece from Bali, worn by Kani, who works at the Hawk Hub. He was specially able to purchase a Kamben on his GO trip. The Kamben is a sarong typically worn at Bali temples by men during religious ceremonies.
As the exciting night came to a close, three exchange students–Hugo, Peter, and Leebron–made Chinese calligraphy banners as a unique, farewell token for guests.
It was wonderful to see how passionate and committed the ACA executives were with putting on the event. They all expressed their hope that this tradition will continue, and that more people will be able to attend in the upcoming years.
For those who weren’t familiar with these cultures, the night was a chance to learn the history of another culture and experience its virtues and elegance. And for guests with Asian background and heritage, the celebration was a lovely reminder of the beautiful traditions that shape their culture.
As the Year of the Snake begins, let us express our wishes for good fortune and happiness!
Xīn Nián Kuài Lè! Chúc Mừng Năm Mới! Happy New Year!