Children experience Asian culture at celebration

Happy New Year. \nIf you were born in 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992 or 2004, it's time to put your party hats on. Thursday marked the beginning of a New Year on the lunar calendar, the Year of the Monkey. \nAccording to tradition, the Lunar New Year celebration begins with the first full moon of the new year, and lasts for 15 days. Aside from Asian-Americans in the United States, the Asian New Year is celebrated in many countries, such as China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Tibet, Vietnam and Cambodia. \nMore than 250 children and adults filled the corridor of Monroe County Library Saturday afternoon for the celebration of the Lunar New Year for children, sponsored by the Asian Culture Center in cooperation with the Children's Department of the Monroe County Public Library. This is the fifth year Melanie Castillo-Cullather, Director of the ACC, has organized the Lunar New Year celebration festivities. \n"It's important that children understand the United States is a multi-cultural country," Castillo-Cullather said. \nChildren, aged kindergarten through sixth grade, of different backgrounds, crowded the library's auditorium to watch performances by Korean Folklore singers, the Playful Little Tigers Tae Kwon Doe organization, ancient Chinese sword dancing and young singers from the Bloomington Chinese Language School. \nFollowing the presentations, participants were led into a room where, together, they could learn to write in calligraphy, make Chinese lanterns, create Lunar New Year greeting cards and indulge in the traditional cuisine. While some chose to take their chances at arts and crafts, others relaxed on the floor with friends and family to share in customary red bean paste rolls in sticky rice, fried egg rolls and sweet buns.\nMichael Choi, sophomore and member of the ACC, was one of the volunteers who helped run the event. \n"It's a chance for Asian kids to find that they aren't completely isolated and other people are anxious to learn about their culture," Choi said. \nUpon entering the decorated room, each guest was handed a "hong bao," or red envelope. According to Chinese tradition, the envelopes, made to hold money, are supposed to bring good luck, prosperity and happiness to the recipient for the New Year.\nJunior Erika Knight volunteered her time along with other members of Kappa Gamma Delta, an Asian-interest sorority. The members participated in hopes of promoting diversity and awareness of the Asian-American culture and experience, which is a part of the sorority's mission. \n"Kappa Gamma Delta regularly volunteers to promote Asian awareness on campus and off," Knight said. \nHelping out at the various activity stations were student volunteers from Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, the Asian American Association, the ACC, and Kappa Gamma Delta.\n"Bringing all different kinds of kids together to celebrate an event like this proves that through diversity we get unity," said Choi.\n-- Contact staff writer Jessica Lobel at jlobel@indiana.edu.