Gung Hay Fat Choy! New Year celebration calendar

Chinese New Year Events
Gung Hay Fat Choy! 2007 is the Year of the Boar/Pig – Lunar Year 4705 on the Chinese calendar. The Lunar New Year is the most important holiday for Chinese and most other Asian families. It is a time of reunion and thanksgiving.

The Lunar New Year begins with the new moon of the first day of the new year, which this year falls on February 18, 2007, and ends 15 days later with the full moon on March 5, 2007.

The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival. This ancient ceremony marks the time after the winter solstice when the daylight is longer and the sunlight is warmer.
The Vietnamese New Year, Tet, is a contraction of the words “Nguyen Dan Tiet” or the “festival of the first day of the year.” Based on the lunar calendar, Tet marks the beginning of the spring season and lasts three or more days. February 18. Korea and Taiwan also celebrate the lunar new year.

UM Chinese New Year Celebration
Sunday, January 28, 2007, 5:00 p.m.
Coffman Memorial Union Great Hall
Chinese American Student Association of the University of Minnesota Annual Chinese New Year celebration.
Share the Chinese cultural traditions with the community. Group performances, traditional Chinese dance and music.
Jennifer Liu, Chair, liuxx331@umn.edu

Mystical Arts of Tibet
Friday, February 2, 2007, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 3, 2007, 2:00 p.m.
Famed multiphonic singers of Tibet�€™s Drepung Loseling Monastery on their �€œSacred Music Sacred Dance for World Healing�€� international tour.
Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, Saint John�€™s University, Collegeville, Minn.
Tickets: $20/$15 for seniors and youth (5-21).
Call 320-363-3577 or visit online at www.csbsju.edu/finearts or www.mysticalartsoftibet.org

Saturday, February 3, 7:00 p.m.
CAAM 2007 Chinese New Year Celebration
O’Shaughnessy Auditorium, College of St. Catherine�€™s, 2004 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105.

2007 Chinese New Year Celebration
Saturday, Feb. 10, 2006 (2:00 to 7:00 p.m.)
North Star Ballroom, St. Paul Student Center, University of Minnesota, 2017 Buford Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108.
Lion dance, Chinese music, dance, singing, martial arts, a talent show, lucky money for children, door prizes, food bazaar, and more.
Tickets include $5 food coupon. Tickets: Adults $12 in advance ($15 at door), Senior/Student $10 ($12 at door), Child (5-12) $8 ($10 at door). Children 5 and under free). Purchase advance tickets from Jan. 6, through Jan. 24, 2007 at the Twin Cities Chinese Language School on Saturdays from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Email chineseculture@netscape.net for more information.

Oxboro Library Year of Pig Celebration
Saturday, Feb. 10, 10:00 a.m.
Lion dance and fun activities include traditional folk dances, stories, art and the distribution of lucky money. Sponsored by the Friends of the Oxboro Library in collaboration with the Hoang Anh Dance Group and the 2006 Richfield Ambassadors.
Oxboro Library, 8801 Portland Ave., Bloomington; 952-847-5775

Augsburg Park Library Year of Pig Celebration
Saturday, Feb. 10, 1:00 p.m.
Augsburg Park Library, 7100 Nicollet Ave., Richfield; 952-847-5300
Lion dance and fun activities include traditional folk dances, stories, art and the distribution of lucky money. Sponsored by the Friends of the Augsburg Park in collaboration with the Hoang Anh Dance Group and the 2006 Richfield Ambassadors.

MCCSC Chinese New Year Celebration
February 10, 2006, 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
North Star Ballroom, U of M St. Paul Student Center, 2017 Buford Ave., St. Paul
Minnesota Chinese Cultural Services Center 2007 Chinese New Year. Open to public. Lion dance, Chinese music, dance, song, martial art, talent show, lucky money for children, door prizes, food bazaar.
Tickets include $5 food coupon: Adult $12 ($15 at door), Senior/Student $10 ($12 at door), Child (5-12) $8 ($10 at door), free admission under age 5.
chineseculture@netscape.net

Chinese New Year Lanterns
Saturday, February 17, 2007 (3:00 to 5:00 p.m.)
Bring in the Chinese New Year by making a traditional red Chinese lantern from ang pao-type paper, and place a small light inside. All materials are provided. Call to reserve a spot at 651-642-0293 or visit online at www.sppl.org.
Free for ages 8 and up. A sample lantern will be available for young children as a drop-in activity from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. No registration is required for the simple lantern.
Hamline Midway Library, 1558 West Minnehaha Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104

Saturday, February 17, 2007 (2:00 p.m.)
The Korean drumming team, Shin Paran (divine wind), will perform their Samulnori style songs (composed for four types of gongs and drums) along the businesses of the “Little Korea” area of Snelling Avenue North, and conclude with an indoor performance at Kum Gang San Restaurant, 694 N. Snelling Avenue, St. Paul.

Chinese New Year Celebration
Saturday, February 17, 2007 (5:00 p.m. to11:00 p.m.)
The Chinese American Association of Minnesota (CAAM) teams with local Chinese businesses and cultural organizations to welcome the Year of the Boar. The celebration includes music and dance performances, Chinese games and riddles, karaoke, and a Chinese dinner. $10 per person
Henry Sibley High School, 1897 Delaware Avenue, Mendota Heights, MN 55118

Taiwanese Lunar New Year Party
Saturday, February 17, 2007 (5:30 to 9:30 p.m.)
University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus Student Center Northstar Ballroom
2017 Buford Ave, St. Paul.
Lion dance, door prize, entertainment.
Sponsored by the Taiwanese Association of America-Minnesota Chapter. Please RSVP to Mr. John Ko at 651-739-0339 to help with planning.

Saturday, February 17, 2007 (10:00 a.m. to Midnight)
2007 Vietnamese Tet New Year Festival
Saint Paul RiverCentre, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
Free and open to the public
Food vendors, community resource booths, performances, Miss Ao Dai and Mr. Viet pageant, community and competition awards, Vietnamese Idol/Karaoke contest, civic leaders, Ballroom Dancing contest (register by Jan. 23, 2007), Community Square cultural exhibits, children’s activities.
For information visit online at www.vietnam-minnesota.org, or email phuongdao79@hotmail.com.

Saturday, February 24, 2007 (2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Tet New Year – Vietnamese Community of Rochester
Mayo High School Auditorium
1420 11th Av. SE, Rochester, MN 55904
Contact: Anh Dam, President, Vietnamese Community of Rochester 507-289-5960 ×115

Saturday, February 24, 2007 (2:30 p.m.)
CAAM 40th Kick Off Event and Chinese New Year Banquet
Ha Family Lion Dance, CAAM Dance Theater, BlueDragon Band, Chinese American Ballroom Association, Door Prizes, Traditional 8-course seafood meal.
Tickets: $28 single ($35 at the door); Children $10 (ages 3-5); $15 (6-10), host a table for $250.
Lucky Dragon Restaurant, 1827 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis
Contact: Le Ha at 651-481-8789

Plymouth Library Year of Pig Celebration
Saturday, February 24, 1:30 p.m.
Plymouth Library, 15700 36th Ave. N, Plymouth; 952-847-5825
Chinese New Year: A Family Festival: Learn how the annual 15-day Chinese New Year festival is celebrated in China and the U.S. Includes activities and display honoring the Year of the Pig. For all ages; bring your entire family. Sponsored by the Friends of the Plymouth Library.

Japanese Drumming by Mu Performing Arts
Monday, February 26, 7:00 p.m.
Arts Access presents a Mu Daiko taiko performance based on a traditional ceremonial drumming song that was once used to protect harvests from pests and evil spirits in ancient Japan. It now provides a captivating audio-visual experience, leaving audiences inspired and breathless. Arts Access at Hennepin County Library is a performance series that connects teens and adults of all mental and physical abilities to the arts.
Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55305; 952-847-8800.
Sponsored by the Library Foundation of Hennepin County, Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota (ARRM), Homeward Bound, Inc., and Star Services.

Renmin University Performing Arts Group
Saturday, February 3, 2007, 7:00 p.m.
Celebrate Chinese New Year with an unforgettable cultural experience from the award winning Renmin (People) youth dance troupe from Beijing. These 45 youth, ages 13 to 16, offer their unique blend of traditional and modern dance and music, extravagant costumes, original music and songs.
Tickets are $22-$18. Call the O’Shaughnessy Box Office at 651-690-6700 or Ticket Master at 651-989-5151, www.ticketmaster.com, and get more details at www.caam.org.