On Friday, Jan. 31, the UW–Madison School of Education’s Global Engagement Office hosted a Lunar New Year celebration, with the help of students Xinyu Lin, Naiwen Si, Dong Chen, and Yoriko Sato.
Lin, who directed the planning for the event, is double majoring in Elemnetary Education and Special Education. In her address at the event, she expressed that she was excited to bring international students together and add to their sense of belonging.
Si, a second-year student with the School’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA), led a table at the event that guided attendees in reflecting on the last year and identifying goals for the next.
A recent graduate of the Global Higher Education program, Chen dedicated her station to learning how to craft a Chinese luck knot. These knots were once used as a form of communication, and are now widely used as decoration and adornment that implies the desire for prosperity.
Sato, also a student with ELPA, demonstrated her calligraphy and painting talents. Students were able to paint tree blossoms and the character 福, which means “luck” in English. The tree blossoms represent the celebration of the Lunar New Year in Vietnam, called Tet.
The celebration also included a game called Yut Nori, a game which is played as a part of Sol Nal, the Korean New Year. The Madison-based Japanese Taiko drumming group BENI Daiko, led by Junko Yamauchi Stewart, also performed at the event.