2025 Lunar New Year Celebration at Tulsa Community College

Rex Burnett, Chair of the Tulsa-Kaohsiung Sister City Partnership, and TGA’s global education community partner, Tulsa Community College, held a Lunar New Year celebration for staff, faculty, and students at TCC’s southeast campus. Attendees enjoyed traditional Chinese snacks like dumplings (silver ingots), spring rolls (gold bars), and wontons (silver ingots). These snacks symbolize wealth and prosperity in the new year.

After a short presentation that highlighted the history of Lunar New Year, Rex shared his personal experiences living in different East Asian cultures during this festival. Attendees learned about the Chinese Zodiac, the Story of Nian (the beast), superstitions, and other traditions.

Following Rex’s presentation, attendees made paper lanterns, wrote the character for good luck, “fu,” learned how to use chopsticks, and made zodiac bookmarks with their zodiac animal.

Lunar New Year is a time filled with dazzling lanterns, explosive fireworks, delicious feasts, and lively traditions that welcome in the new year with joy and prosperity. With colorful dragon dances, red envelopes brimming with luck, and the sound of laughter echoing through the streets, it's a celebration that unites families, honors ancestors, and sets the stage for a fresh start.