The year of the fire horse occurs once every 60 years and brings with it fiery, rapid passion and change. Chinese Lunar New Year began on Feb. 17, and the Center for Asia Pacific Studies brought the festivities to McLaren with a multi-cultural celebration. The building was abuzz with people, laughter and fun as different Asia-Pacific focused offices and groups had tables with games, food and activities. The tables had games and activities like lantern making, tea tasting, bingo and horse keychain decoration. The energy was high as volunteers at the tables ushered people over to participate in their activity and learn more about how different cultures celebrate the occasion. While the atmosphere was festive, the event carried deeper cultural meaning.
The Chinese Lunar New Year begins with a 15 day Spring Festival that ends with the Lantern Festival. The Chinese zodiac follows a repeating 12 year cycle, with each year represented by an animal and paired with one of the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal or water. In this cycle, the horse symbolizes diligence, courage and resilience. 2026 being the year of the fire horse is rare and symbolizes the potential for change. It’s important to note that different regions in Asia may follow a different Zodiac system and celebrate the Lunar New Year differently. That diversity of cultural experience was clearly visible in the booths in McLaren.
Each booth at the event featured a different activity or cuisine, with some that came from a specific Asian background and culture. Specifically, there was a booth for traditional Chinese painting on rice paper and a Vietnamese gambling game called “Bầu cua cá cọp.” Volunteer and junior business analytics major, Alex Crumm, learned more about Chinese culture from Bingo, saying “One of the bingo card symbols is a Chinese gold block, I didn’t know what that was, I found that out today.” The symbol was a Chinese gold ingot, a type of currency used in Imperial China, that symbolizes prosperity for the new year. Those celebrating at the event ranged from President Aceves to non-USF students or faculty members, with everyone coming together for cultural understanding and festivities.
The real spectacle, however, was the lion dance that ended the event. Drums were beat as two lions, one gold and one red, danced in. The lions circled around the room, eventually going toward the middle of the room to the “Cai Qing,” a large golden pot that symbolizes the obstacle the lion must overcome for prosperity. The crowd laughed, gasped and cheered as the dance went on. It was the emotional centerpiece of the day and a favorite amongst the crowd.
According to organizers, this intentional mix of activities reflects the broader mission of the event and the Center for Asia Pacific Studies. Organizer of the event and Marketing and Project Manager of the Center, Louise Li, noted that the intention for the event was to be more inclusive of all cultures to further the Center’s mission of promoting cultural understanding of the Asia Pacific region. Mentioning the inclusion of games like Bầu cua cá cọp, she said, “Having the other offices bring an element of what they grew up with…It’s interesting seeing what cultures bring what to the table.”
For students, the event was personal, educational and fun. Volunteer and senior advertising major Sydnie Noguera said she loved seeing how the room filled up with people and noted the event, “strengthens community on campus because it’s one of those types of events that kind of brings everyone together, whether it’s people celebrating the Lunar New Year or don’t really know what it is and they’re able to learn about it and also see how everyone celebrates it, especially with the lion dance.” While some came to learn more, others came because of the personal cultural significance it holds for them. Xaander Furey, junior public health major, talked about the significance of celebrating at USF, saying, “I normally celebrate with my family…but I only got to see them for a little bit. So, it was nice to celebrate on-campus, because I know not everyone has the chance to go home.” The celebration created a space where students could learn from each other and feel a shared sense of belonging.
When the lion dance ended and students headed back to class, the event became less about spectacle and more about shared experience. Some left with handmade keychains and half-finished lanterns, others with a new understanding of a symbol on a Bingo card and some with the comfort of celebrating a tradition away from home. The celebration offered a space to pause, learn and connect. It was a reminder that cultural traditions can feel accessible when they’re brought into everyday campus life.
