This year — the year of the rooster — the Asian Student Association, Chinese Language and Culture Club, International Club, and Chinese Language Program put on a bright celebration for the lunar new year, inviting the rest of the campus to their party and lantern festival.

Club leaders Lu Miao ’17, Son Ngo ’17, Catherine Liu ’19, and Carina Sun ’19 said they wanted to give the Bowdoin community an opportunity to learn more about the lunar new year, which is celebrated across Asia. They treated students and faculty to traditional cuisine from Portland restaurants.

“It is one of the most important festivals in my culture that celebrates family values,” Ngo, who is from Vietnam, said. “We visit our family members who live far away, and pay tribute to our ancestors. People give red envelopes to younger generations, and with the money in these envelopes they wish them health and good luck.”

Hunter White ’17,an Asian Studies major, spent a semester in Taiwan, and noted how excited he was to try some of the snacks that he missed from his time in Taiwan.

The night included student performances and karaoke.​

Photos by Michele Stapleton