The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is considered one of the most popular holidays in China and Chinese communities worldwide. Celebrated over the course of fifteen days, the festivities include reunions, feasts, and hope for good fortune in the new year.
“One of the main goals is to put people in a celebratory mood,” shares Senior Lecturer Jin Stone (Asian & Middle Eastern Studies). Stone grew up in northern China and studied English literature before moving to the United States in the late '90s. He joined the University of Minnesota to pursue his PhD and has been an instructor in Chinese language courses since 2003.
Though Stone acknowledges that Lunar New Year celebrations have evolved, the themes of family and togetherness have remained constant. Here, he shares some more fun facts about the official arrival of spring.
