Year of the Snake
Chinese New Year festival features first Peking Opera performances in state
11:05 a.m., Feb. 8, 2013--The Confucius Institute and the Chinese Students and Scholars Association invite the University of Delaware campus community and the public to a special celebration of the Chinese New Year the Year of the Snake on Saturday, Feb. 16, in Mitchell Hall on UD’s Newark campus.
The Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity of the traditional Chinese holidays. In China, it is known as the Spring Festival, the literal translation of its Chinese name “Chun Jie,” and is celebrated for 15 days ending with the Lantern Festival.
Global Stories
Fulbright awards
Peace Corps plans
This year, the Chinese New Year falls on Sunday, Feb. 10, to start the Year of Snake in the Chinese zodiac, and ends on the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar on Sunday, Feb. 24.
Putting posters of “door gods” or the Chinese character “Fu” (meaning “good fortune”) upside down on front doors, cleaning the house, hosting a large family reunion dinner, and celebrating with a lantern parade, lion dance and fireworks are among the holiday traditions.
On Saturday, Feb. 16, starting at 7 p.m., an evening of traditional and modern Chinese New Year festivities will be presented in Mitchell Hall.
The celebration will feature various art performances including traditional Chinese singing, folk dances, musical instruments, talk show, games, and the first professional Peking Opera performances in Delaware by renowned Peking Opera artists from China’s National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts and several national and international theatrical art awards winners.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are available in the box office at the Trabant University Center and at the door.
The Confucius Institute is also sponsoring another Chinese Spring Festival Gala with the Delaware Chinese American Association on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 2-4 p.m., at John Dickinson High School. The event is free.
For more information, contact the Confucius Institute at UD at 302-831-7190 or the Chinese Students and Scholars Association at 302-766-3054.