Chinese Students and Scholars Association hosted Chinese New Year of Rooster Gala

The Chinese Students and Scholars Association at Southeast Missouri State University hosted the Chinese New Year of Rooster Gala on Friday, Feb. 17, at Centenary United Methodist Church.

The organization had everyone sign a tablecloth to show how many people attended. Behind the tablecloth were different games and activities to enjoy before the event started. There was a table set up for calligraphy where a person could write their name on a piece of paper and it was translated into Chinese.

There was another table set up called tea ceremony, where samples of Chinese tea were given out. Then there were three tables set up with games. One game was called touhu, which consists of tossing sticks into a vase. Another game they offered was called zating candy, which consisted of a lifesaver dangling at the end of a stick taped to a hat, where the candy is then supposed to be caught in your mouth. The last game they had was called shuttlecock, which is very similar to hacky sack. In the game, the shape of a shuttlecock like in badminton is used and it had feathers at the end.

A Calligraphy artist writes names of people in Chinese.Photo by Elizabeth Munier

Around 7 p.m. the gala began with a video presentation of faculty and students greeting the new year.

There were many performers throughout the event, many of whom included students singing and dancing, and there were even child performers. A children’s dance group and two girls performed with traditional Chinese instruments such as an erhu, which is known as a “Chinese violin,” but it only has two strings and a hulusi, which is a “flute-like” instrument that is a free reed wind instrument.

“I thought the event was very inspiring,” sophomore Razan Roumany said.

After the performances Chinese food was served, which was sponsored by China Palace in Cape Girardeau. While everyone ate, members of CSSA tested non-Chinese audience members on their knowledge about China. After that there were a couple more performances.

“I thought the food was very delicious,” junior Dulce Betsabe Munoz said.