Our existence moves us all through the experience of change, both in ourselves and the world around us. If we attend to the many forms of change that we experience, we see that some changes repeat themselves with relatively rapid frequency while others appear to usher in more permanent realities. Looking outside of ourselves, we see the repetition of change in flora and fauna. A tree may sprout leaves, produce fruit, shed its foliage and stand bare many times within our own lives. That same tree may also expand in size and height, without ever returning to its original seedling phase. Two changes appear before us in this tree, one a change of cycles and the other a change without repetition. Beautifully, we can make sense of the latter change, that of growth, by using the tree’s continuously repeating patterns to establish periods of measurement. In other words, we come to understand that a tree may double in size between cycles of shedding its leaves.
This measurement-by-cycle process, the use of repetitions in the natural world to establish periods of change, perhaps provided humanity with its understanding of time. But as with all human realities, the meaning and measurement of time is culturally informed. Different cultures use different cycles to measure time and give unique meanings to those cycles. Powerfully, in a globalized world and pluralist society, we can learn from and with each other about time and its meanings. The more we honor and learn from one another, the more vast our understanding becomes about history and the possibilities of our collective future.
One of the ways that humans have measured time has been through the movement of celestial bodies, particularly the sun and the moon. The Gregorian calendar, for example, is a time measurement based on the position of the sun. The Islamic calendar, however, measures time based on the moon. Some systems, however, use a combination of both sun and moon to establish time periods and measurement such as the Hindu calendar, the Hebrew calendar and the Chinese calendar. There are many calendars across the globe, and across our nation, that are used to mark personal, cultural, religious and corporate time. No matter which calendar is used, special meaning is often given to the first day of a new yearly cycle. These “new year” days offer us a chance to reminisce on the changes of the past year and remind us that new change and growth awaits us in the future.
This Wednesday, Jan. 29, many in our country and across the world will celebrate Lunar New Year. This is true of folks with Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultural heritage, among others. In fact, Lunar New Year is celebrated across Asia and globally by over 2 billion people; it is sometimes referred to as the Spring Festival or Tet. In a zodiac shared by many of these cultures, this day will usher in the Year of the Snake. Celebrations will take place in many countries, marked by traditions and practices that have been passed down for generations. The new year will also be brought in with innovation and creativity as historic practices are reinterpreted in new contexts. Here in Orange County, there will be many public celebrations of the incoming of the Lunar New Year that are open for you to attend. A number of families and communities will also have personal celebrations that mark this new start, wish for peace, prosperity and health for all.
Over 16% of students at Chapman University identify as Asian/Pacific Islander/Desi-American (APIDA) and we also have several APIDA faculty and staff members; an interim director of APIDA heritage and achievement was recently created to serve our campuses. As our mission is to prepare global citizens, it is important for the entire university community to be aware of Lunar New Year celebrations and their significance.
Celebrating Lunar New Year can take many forms and hold different meanings for our own Panther family. For example, Jean-Louis Bru, Ph.D., assistant professor of biological sciences, celebrates Lunar New Year both with family and the larger community.
“On a personal and family level, I maintain the important tradition of visiting temples, connecting with my spiritual practices and cultural heritage,” says Bru. “On a community leadership level, I take an active role in preserving and sharing Vietnamese culture through logistical work organizing the Tet Festival.”
Shih-wei Carrasco-Wu, assistant production manager at the Musco Center for Performing Arts, reflects “Lunar New Year in my Taiwanese American family is all about food. Food is magic during the season of red and gold. We eat fish for a plentiful year and Eight Treasure Rice for a year filled with prosperity.”
Nguyen Ly Pharm.D., a recent Panther alum from the Doctorate of Pharmacy program, says “My family cleans the house to sweep away bad luck, enjoys a feast with bánh chưng (square sticky rice cakes) and thịt kho (braised pork), exchanges lì xì (red envelopes), and visits relatives while honoring ancestors with incense.”
Reg Chhen Stewart Ph.D., vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, also shares his household’s celebration saying, “My family is an awesome mix of personalities of both Black and Chinese descent and deeply rooted in Khmer culture, who eagerly look forward to the start of the new year. Leading up to new year’s day, we are busy cleaning the house from top to bottom. We frantically search our closet to find clothes that we have yet to wear, and we ready the red envelopes.”
These celebrations reverberate with meaning for those in the Panther family.
Ly, reflecting on the new year, muses “These traditions remind me of family, gratitude and hope. They bring my family closer and give me hope for a fresh start in the new year. Shih-Wei Carrasco-Wu notes: “These symbols tie me and my family to our ancestors, and I think it’s pretty rad to know we have kept a tradition going after these years…It reminds me that we can all endure. And most importantly, in good times and bad, good scrumptious eats can soothe one’s weary soul.”
Bru sums up the multifaceted meaning of new year celebrations stating: “My involvement in both family traditions and community organization shows how much these traditions mean to me in terms of my cultural identity, community connection, and passing on our heritage.” Undoubtedly, Lunar New Year is a time of great cultural and personal significance for those who celebrate.
Recognizing the opportunity that new beginnings bring, let us celebrate together the coming of a new year. As Stewart notes, “Lunar New Year is about remembering our ancestors and loved ones…connecting our past to our present and to our future.” Traditions of the Lunar New Year remind us that a vital aspect of forging ahead into the future is to recognize and honor the past. In this new year, and its celebration, let us learn from one another and share with one another the wealth of cultural and personal heritage that makes Chapman University an inclusive place of achievement and innovation.
Wishing everyone a prosperous and happy new year.
By
Pradip K. Shukla, Ph.D., CPIM, Interim Director of APIDA Heritage and Achievement and Shah Family Endowed Chair in Innovativeness
Kevin Nguyen-Stockbridge, Ph.D., Director of LGBTQ Pride and Achievement
