Lion dancers hold up signs during the Lunar New Year Night Market on Feb. 17 at Brazos Park. The dancers and drummers are part of the Jin Long Lion Dance Troupe.
On Tuesday night, students and residents gathered in Brazos Park to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse at the Lunar New Year Night Market.
The event was a collaboration between multiple student organizations focused on Asian culture, such as the Asian Business Student Association, the Chinese Culture & Language Association, the Korean Culture Association, the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers and the Vietnamese Student Association.
Red lanterns and string lights hung over tables as students lined up for boba, games and performances.
Students browse a vendor’s table during the Lunar New Year Night Market on Feb. 17 at Brazos Park. One of the tables featured a Vietnamese gambling game called bầu cua cá cọp.
The Chinese Culture & Language Association sold scallion pancakes at their table and offered attendees the opportunity to learn how to play mahjong and jianzi.
Logan Stewart, international business sophomore and Chinese Culture & Language Association member, said the activities tie into traditional Taiwanese Night Market culture.
“We hope that more people recognize the Lunar and Chinese New Year holidays and learn something new, try something from this,” Stewart said. “That’s the biggest thing we want to give to people.”
Lion dancers approach the stage during the Lunar New Year Night Market on Feb. 17 at Brazos Park. Lion dances are symbolic performances to usher in good luck for the new year.
Along with games and snacks, attendees also had the opportunity to watch performances.
The Jin Long Lion Dance Troupe’s performance excited many attendees as the performers made the lions come to life. The lions’ playful movements through the crowd made students and residents laugh.
Khang Nguyen, aerospace engineering junior and Jin Long Lion Dance Troupe member, said the group had been practicing for six months in preparation for multiple Lunar New Year performances.
“Lion Dancing is really pivotal for a lot of Southeast and Asian cultures,” Nguyen said. “It signifies a start of a new prosperous year and a lot of good luck and fortune.”
Midlothian resident Lin Wang, 45, brought her daughter to the market to help her understand her heritage.
Wang said it is important to see a mix of cultures and ethnicities at the event and on campus.
Organizational communications senior Ryan Kirkpatrick, left, cinematic arts senior Hannah Nguyen, middle, and accounting senior Valencia Favors pose on stage during the Lunar New Year Night Market on Feb. 17 at Brazos Park. The performers are part of UTA’s Korean Culture Association.
Loren Mediana, theater arts freshman, said that while she does not celebrate Lunar New Year, she still enjoyed the activities offered.
“I feel like UTA should continue to host more events like this,” Mediana said. “It definitely got me more aware of certain cultures that are very different from here or from where I’m from.”
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