CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL BEGINS TODAY

"Gung Hoy Fet Toy."

"Syin Nyan Kwai Le!"

There are a number of ways to say Happy New Year. Those phrases are Malaysian and Mandarin, respectively. They will be uttered many times throughout the world in the next few days.

The Chinese New Year starts today as the ancient, annual festival unites people of Chinese heritage around the globe in a joyous celebration of hope and new beginnings.

Chinese family and friends gather in China, Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia and other nations, including the United States, to rejoice in the cultural traditions of the Chinese people.

The sorrows and mistakes of the past year dissolve in a flurry of feasting, fireworks, dancing, and even the exchange of gifts.

"This is the Year of the Tiger," said John Cai, owner of the Chinese Palace, a restaurant at 1731 Broadway.

Cai, a native of Shaozinga City in the Zwejiang Province of China, said the Chinese News Year's Festival was traditionally a two-week festival.

The Chinese will welcome year 4696 of the Chinese lunar calendar.

Many of the activities surrounding the event are devoted to banishing evil spirits to ensure that the coming year is filled with good luck and prosperity.

The Chinese Zodiac consists of 12-year cycles, with each year named after a different animal that provides distinct characteristics to its year.

More about the Chinese New Year cultures will be discussed during a special meeting Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Baptist Student Center.

"We have an international culture junction at the Baptist Student Center," said Andy Pratt, Southeast Missouri State University campus minister. "We have weekly meetings between American students and international students to feature a culture, or a food night. This week it will center on the Chinese heritage and the Chinese New Year."

"We usually have other celebrations for the Chinese New Year," said George Dordoni, assistant director of the Campus Assistance Center. Dordoni works with international students.

Scott Perry, a vicar at Trinity Lutheran Church, is familiar with Chinese heritage and the Chinese New Year.

"I taught high school in Taiwan after college," said Perry, a native of Minnesota and a graduate of Mankato State. Perry will attend Concordia Seminary in St. Louis following a year's internship here.

"I'd like to do missionary work in the Far East," he said. "I taught there four years, and am familiar with many of the cultures there."

The Chinese New Year is observed in many of the Far East nations, said Perry. "I was surprised my first year there when all the factories shut down and people really enjoyed a holiday."

These factories usually run 24 hours a day, but on Chinese New Year they completely shut down, said Perry. "People gather for family dinners, parades, and other events."

Many Chinese believe that the year of a person's birth is the primary factor in determining that person's personality traits, physical and mental attributes, and the degree of success and happiness throughout that person's life.

Tiger people, said Perry, are considered to be aggressive, candid, courageous and sensitive.

Tigers should look to the Horse and, or Dog for happiness, but should steer clear of the Monkey, according to Chinese legend.

The Chinese government officially abandoned the Chinese calendar in 1912, but the Chinese people continue to celebrate. It falls on a different date each year according to the lunar cycles.

CHINESE ZODIAC

The Chinese zodiac consists of 12-year cycles, each year named after a different animal. They are:

Tiger, 1998; Ox, 1997; Rat, 1996; Boar, 1995; Dog, 1994; Cock, 1993; Monkey, 1992; Sheep, 1991; Horse, 1990; Snake, 1989; Dragon, 1988; Rabbit, 1987.

The animals rotate every 12 years.