Welcome the New Year of the Rabbit and the joy of the rabbits! The rabbits stand for the luck to make treasures. STUST recently held the 2023 New Year Celebration for Foreign Students learning Chinese Language and Culture. Prof. De-guang Chou, Vice President and Director of International Affairs, STUST, together with the school supervisors, Professor Helena Obendiek and Professor Oliver Duerr of the Konstanz University of Applied Sciences, Germany, and 88 International students, experienced the atmosphere of Taiwan's traditional Lunar New Year, which was very lively and warm.

【A group photo of STUST's 2023 New Year Celebration for Foreign Students learning Chinese Language and Culture】

In the activity, the teachers of the Chinese Language Center led the participating International students to a better understanding of the cultural customs and the origin of the Lunar New Year. They also introduced the meanings of the New Year’s dishes and New Year’s activities, such as writing Spring Festival couplets, giving out red envelopes, eating New Year’s Eve dinner, and New Year’s greetings. Students also used the traditional paper-cut art of window grilles in art courses, cut out patterns and auspicious words of the Year of the Rabbit that symbolize blessings and good luck, and used their personal creativity to paint their own totems. While understanding the beauty of traditional Taiwanese art, they also came to understand the meaning of paper-cut patterns that symbolize good fortune and warding off evil spirits. The teachers taught the participating students to say auspicious words and understand the auspicious meanings they represent, encouraging students to actually write down the auspicious words and pray for the New Year.

【In the 2023 New Year Celebration for Foreign Students learning Chinese Language and Culture at STUST】

At the beginning of the reunion dinner at noon, De-guang Chou, Vice president of STUST, distributed to the participating students lucky money symbolizing auspiciousness and wealth. He wished all the students good luck, good health, peace and success in the Year of the Rabbit. Foreign students also said auspicious words to Vice President Chou. The celebration felt so warm and touching. In addition to red envelopes, they also left with snacks that symbolize the New Year. Every International student was excited and happy, and everyone returned with a full load. The annual Chinese New Year celebration for International students ended in a smooth, successful note among International students saying Happy New Year to each other.

【Vice President De-guang Chou of STUST was delivering a speech at the 2023 New Year Celebration for Foreign Students learning Chinese Language and Culture.】

Anna, an Argentinian student at STUST, said that this was her first time celebrating the New Year in Taiwan, and she found it novel and interesting. She gained a lot by participating in cultural experience courses to learn traditional New Year customs.

【Vice President De-guang Chou of STUST was distributing red envelopes to International students during the 2023 New Year Celebration for Foreign Students learning Chinese Language and Culture.】

Prof. De-guang Chou, Vice President and Director of International Affairs, said “congratulations” to the International students on the New Year in advance, on behalf of all the teachers and teachers of STUST. He also explained to the International students the symbol of the Year of the Rabbit in Taiwanese society and the meaning of the twelve zodiac signs, allowing International students to have a better understanding of Taiwanese culture. Vice President Chou also said that the purpose of organizing this event every year on the eve of the Lunar New Year is to encourage International students who stay in Taiwan can take advantage of this event to experience the traditional New Year culture and feel the lively atmosphere of the New Year in Taiwan. He also expected that every International student can accumulate diverse strengths and rich skills during his or her study in STUST.