By Amayah Schoener
The Lunar New Year, Ramadan, and Mardi Gras are three major celebrations that almost
always fall on separate days, but this year they all coincide on Tuesday, Feb 17.
THE LUNAR NEW YEAR
The Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new year according to the lunisolar calendar,
which uses the moon’s monthly cycles and the sun’s yearly cycles to track time. The Lunar
New Year always falls at the end of January or the beginning of February.
New Mexico State University graduate marketing student Yi Wu is originally from a small
town in China, where the Lunar New Year is celebrated nationwide with fireworks, parades,
delicious food, and family reunions. Wu is the head of the Chinese Students and Scholars
Association, so it is her job to keep the NMSU Chinese community connected.
This year, she plans to get together with her Chinese friends and eat hot pot to celebrate
the New Year. Hot pot is a simmering broth placed in the center of a dining table,
surrounded by fresh meat, tofu, seafood, noodles, and vegetables, all of which are dipped
into the broth to cook.
“Every Chinese person cannot reject a hot pot,” Wu said.
Wu also plans to attend the Lunar New Year event happening 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at
the Indian American Student Center.
NMSU freshman 3D animation and visual effects student Jaden Vong is also planning to go.
Vong has been celebrating the Lunar New Year his whole life. He grew up in Las Cruces but
has ancestors from Vietnam and China who passed down the tradition. He wants to help
continue the tradition with future generations.
“It’s always something I looked forward to as a kid…it gives us a reason to celebrate,” Vong
said.
The broader term Lunar New Year indicates millions of Southeast Asians, not just the
Chinese, celebrate the holiday. Vong said it’s an American thing to call it the “Chinese New
Year.”
RAMADAN
Ramadan is a month of fasting and prayer practiced by Muslims worldwide, which happens
every ninth month of the Islamic/lunar calendar. Ramadan shifts about 10 days earlier
each Gregorian year; last year it started March 1, and next year it will start Feb. 8.
An NMSU freshman biology student, who wished to remain unnamed, said for her,
Ramadan is about “having the chance to connect with family, friends, and God.”
During the 30 days of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and break their fast
with Iftar, a meal often including lentils, samosas, and salads. This student emphasizes
that fasting is meant to be humbling, not showy, and not for the benefit of others.
She is part of both the NMSU Muslim Student Association and Every Campus a Refuge
(ECAR) groups. She plans to attend the Iftar event at the NMSU American Indian Student
Center at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26. The event is open to everyone.
Freshman journalism student Ines Villalobos-Finigan also plans to attend. Villalobos-
Finigan converted from Catholicism to Islam 4 years ago because she connected with the
Quran. She scheduled her classes this semester with Ramadan in mind, giving herself time
for prayer and trying to be home for Iftar.
Villalobos-Finigan addressed two common misconceptions about Islam. One is that it
allows for child marriage. Some people think this because the Prophet Muhammad
married a child, but this was thousands of years ago, Villalobos-Finigan said, and was the
custom at the time. The law requires a woman to be mentally and physically mature to get
married. Another misconception is that Muslim women don’t have rights.
“Women are to be treated like princesses in Islam,” Villalobos-Finigan said.
Muslim women wear a hijab to preserve their beauty for their loved ones. The Quran first
commands men to avert their eyes, Villalobos-Finigan said, and then tells women to wear
a head covering.
MARDI GRAS
Mardi Gras is a Catholic celebration held the day before Ash Wednesday each year. Ash
Wednesday is the start of Lent, a period of fasting that lasts for the 40 days leading up to
Easter. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring
equinox, March 21. So, Mardi Gras is always in February or early March. Mardi Gras means
Fat Tuesday in French; it’s mainly celebrated in Europe and in a few cities around the U.S.
NMSU freshman social work student Cassandra Serna from Santa Fe is a practicing
Catholic but has never celebrated Mardi Gras. All she really knows about the celebration is
it’s a big party that happens as a last freedom before Lent. Serna doesn’t like the idea of
Mardi Gras too much because it makes Lent seem like a chore. Lent is a tradition for
Catholics to practice fasting, prayer and almsgiving, which is an exercise of charitable
service or financial contribution.
“I think it’s a time of self-reflection and humility,” Serna said.
This year, she is giving up curse words and plans to pray more regularly. She sees Lent as
“an honor to give up something in memory of someone you hold so high in power.”
Serna does not have any plans this year for Mardi Gras, however, she plans to attend an
Ash Wednesday service the next day, Feb. 18. St. Albert the Great Newman Center is right
across the street from campus (near Solano Drive and University Avenue) and is offering ashes at 2:10, 5:30, and 7 p.m. There will
also be ashes available in the NMSU Corbett Ballrooms at 2:10 and 5:30 p.m.
NMSU
Serna feels like NMSU supports all religious practices because there are often religious
people on campus tabling and people talking to each other about what they believe. Wu
agrees,
“I feel like the school really supports us to do the Chinese Lunar New Year,” Wu said.
NMSU supports religious students in different ways; the freshman Muslim biology student
often uses the prayer area on the second floor of Zuhl library for her daily prayers.
“It’s nice to know you already have a place,” she said.
There is also a prayer room in the American Indian Student Center and a Spiritual Center
on campus, both available to students and faculty of all religions.
Taos restaurant is also celebrating the Lunar New Year and Mardi Gras on Feb. 17 with
traditional food from each celebration.
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