On Thursday evening, February 23, the St. Mark's Asian Student Alliance (ASA) hosted a Festival Dinner to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar, the Lunar New Year is traditionally celebrated by Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures, among many others. The new Lunar New Year begins on Saturday, January 25; it is the Year of the Rat.
Following a Wednesday Lunar New Year presentation in the Center, the Thursday evening St. Mark's event took place in both the Hinkle Room and the small dining room. There was plenty of traditional Asian food, mostly prepared by FLIK Dining, although students and parents also provided some delicacies. Students, faculty, staff, parents, families, and friends enjoyed the event. There were presentations, musical performances, and dances from a wide range of students.
The ASA organizes this event each year to share the diversity of Asian cultures represented at St. Mark's, in keeping with the School's commitment to global citizenship.