Lion dance, martial arts, Chinese art exhibits, music, and dance performances are some of the activities planned by the Chinese New Year Celebration Alliance, in partnership with Sac State, to celebrate the Chinese new year.

The celebration is scheduled for Saturday, February 16 in the University Union.

The event starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 10 p.m., with an opening ceremony at 1 p.m. This is followed by the lion dance, an important tradition in China since the late Han dynasty in about 100 A.D.

“This year, we are bringing in the lion dance for the first time,” said CNYCA committee memberTom Bhe.

CNYCA members have been gathering together since July to coordinate this year?s celebration. Meeting for two hours once a month, they feel well prepared to bring in the year of the horse.

“We are welcoming the year of horse,” said Bhe. “It signifies a prosperous new year.”

“I wish happiness and everything to go smoothly in this new year,” said CNYCA committe member Kitty Chang.

Unlike previous years, Chang is paying more attention to traditional Chinese practices such as cleaning every corner of her house before the new year. Sweeping out all the old dust that has collected symbolizes sweeping out all the bad luck says Chang. Like many people this new Chinese year, Chang hopes to start the year off fresh and with good luck.

Every year?s celebration is equally important; however, the horse is a special symbolic figure of success, said Haipo Yu, professor of theatre arts at Sac State.

Yu hopes to take advantage of the year of the horse. For the past month-and-half, he has been working on the scenic design for the stage set, where the performances will take place.

“It?s fun and I like being involved,” said Yu.

Celebrated for more than 4000 years, the Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in the Chinese community. The celebration lasts for 15 days, starting on February 12 with the new moon. The event at Sac State is expecting to attract 4000 people to celebrate on Saturday.