Campus international students and high school leadership organize a campus celebration for Chinese New Year during lunch, Feb. 5.

All JH and HS students are encouraged to wear red to support the holiday. The color red is symbolic of good luck and happiness in Chinese culture.

Authentic lunch is provided for students to purchase ahead of time in the HS main office for $7.50. Activities at lunch include learning how to use chopsticks and writing Chinese characters.

Chinese New Year is the beginning of the second moon after the winter solstice. This is the longest of the Chinese holidays. Each year has a different zodiac animal symbol, this is the ‘Year of the Boar’.

There are 12 zodiac animal symbol the year can be themed around. The animals are a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Each animal has a different meaning behind it. The pig represents wealth and treasure.

The celebration of Chinese New Year normally lasts 15 days. Festivals traditionally go on until the next full moon. This holiday follows the phases of the moon. Chinese households will sometimes clean the house to cleanse the home and get rid of any lingering bad luck.

The 2019 Fresno Chinese New Year parade and festival will be held March 2, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in Fresno’s China Town on F street between Kern and Tulare.

For more Feather photos, visit media, photos 2018-19.