YORK, Pa. — Lunar New Year, sometimes referred to as Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, will be celebrated at Penn State York to usher in the Year of the Pig on Tuesday, Feb. 5. The festivities, from 12:15 until 1:30 p.m. in the Conference Center of the Main Classroom Building, are free and open to the campus community. 

The event is sponsored by Global Programs, Cultural Diversity and Enrichment, and the Chinese Undergraduate Student Association (CUSA) at the campus.

Penn State York students from China, South Korea and Vietnam have worked together on the celebration, which features a variety of activities, including learning to paint Chinese characters, cutting intricate designs from rice paper, lantern painting, the Chopstick Challenge, Chinese card games, Mahjong, and sampling Asian food.

Penn State York enrolls about 180 international students. Planners of the celebration said they hope that those who attend will become more familiar with the cultures represented, and understand that for some international students, this event is the equivalent of Christmas Day in America.