January 24, 2005

Purdue department celebrates, talks about Year of the Rooster

Even though the Chinese New Year may not be officially observed in Indiana, a Purdue University professor says the holiday does have a presence in the Midwest.

"Cities, especially ones with a large Chinese population on the East and West coasts will celebrate the Chinese New Year like it is Christmas," says Wei Hong, associate professor of Chinese. "The celebration may not be as large here, but the spirit of the holiday still remains."

To share that spirit, the public is invited to celebrate the Chinese New Year from 3-5 p.m. on Feb. 3 in Stanley Coulter Hall, Room 131. Traditional dumplings, called jiaozi, will be served, and information about the holiday also will be shared. There is no cost to attend. The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures and the Purdue China Center are sponsoring the event. The Chinese Conversation Hour meets at 3 p.m. every Thursday.

Also, the Purdue Chinese Students and Scholars Association is sponsoring an entertainment gala to celebrate the New Year from 1:30-5 p.m. on Feb. 5 in the Class of 1950 Lecture Hall. There will be music featuring Chinese musical instruments, dancing, skits and a fashion show. The event is free and open to the public.

The day of the Chinese New Year is celebrated in January or February based on a lunar calendar, and the year also is marked by one of 12 animals. This year the Chinese New Year starts on Feb. 9 and celebrates the Year of the Rooster.

"The rooster, pronounced ji, represents hardworking qualities, and brings fortune and good luck," says Hong, a Chinese linguist who also is the assistant department head in foreign languages and literatures. "A person who is born in the Year of the Rooster is referred to as a hardworking and modest person."

CONTACT: Hong, (765) 494-3859, hongwei@purdue.edu

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