SRU’s Feb. 13 Chinese New Year celebration offers food, fun

Jan. 25, 2016

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University's Feb. 13 Chinese New Year Celebration will include a luncheon, children activities and live music. The free, "Year of the Monkey" program will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Slippery Rock Township Building located at 155 Branchton Road.

Chinese musicians from Ohio and Pittsburgh will perform traditional Chinese music. Children's activities will include ping-pong and other interactive activities. The luncheon will include several Chinese food entrees, said Jeffery Forrest, SRU professor in the School of Business, who is directing this year's program.

He said the program would offer fun and support for multiculturalism, an important component of SRU's mission to educate graduates for a pluralistic world.

"We are an educational institution that wants to educate people who can be successful and transform the world," Forrest said. "Hopefully our graduates will be able to embrace different ideas and create a better world. Modern times are about globalization."

The Chinese New Year, also known as the "Lunar New Year" or "Spring Festival," is one of the most important holidays in China. Chinese New Year, "Year of the Red Monkey," is Feb. 8 according to the lunar calendar. The celebration runs 15 days starting with a family dinner and ending with a "Lantern Festival."

According to legend, Buddha summoned all animals to meet him on Chinese New Year Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each animal. He taught that people born in that year would exhibit some of that animal's personality.

According to Chinese tradition, those born in the "Year of the Monkey" are clever, curious and smart.

MEDIA CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine | 724.738.4854 | gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu