AACC Lunar New Year 2023 - Year of the Rabbit Theme Dinner Collaboration with University Dining

The Asian American Cultural Center partners with University of Illinois dining in presenting an annual Lunar New Year-themed dinner, which includes traditional food and desserts, and encourages student groups to perform as well as interact with students about the holiday as well.

Join for free craft activities plus special performances!

Performance and art groups interested in being a part of our 2023 celebration can reach out to our Assistant Director, Sang at aacc@illinois.edu.

NOTE: The full LNY dinner menu is posted on the Illinois App and standard University Housing meal rates will apply.

Red envelopes are gifts presented at social and family gatherings such as weddings or on holidays such as Lunar New Year. Inside you may find gifts of money or lucky coins. They are given out by elders to children or by married couples to single adults. The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck and is supposed to ward off evil spirits. The packet is called hongbao in Mandarin, lei see in Cantonese, and li xi in Vietnamese, and sae bae don in Korean, although for Koreans the envelopes may not necessarily be red in color. This custom or ones similar to it, have been adopted by many countries including Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. Regardless of location, it is usually presented with a wish for a happy new year full of good health, longevity, and prosperity!

Instructions

To make the paper lantern, you will need a red envelope, a pair of scissors, and either tape, glue or staples/stapler.

Step 1: Cut off the top of enclosure on the red envelope and set aside.
Step 2: Fold the red envelope in half length wise so the design is facing outside and crease it in.
Step 3: With the opening facing away from you, take the scissors and cut slits in the red envelope stopping at half a cm or one cm from the top.
Step 4: Continue cutting slits throughout the length of the red envelope.
Step 5: Bring one end of the red envelope to the other and connect it together using tape, glue, or stapes. This will give it the lantern shape.
Step 6: For the handle, take the top of the enclosure you cut off in step 1 and fold it in half and curve it to shape it into a handle.
Then tape, glue, or staple it to the top of the paper lantern.

Please visit this link to watch the video on making a paper lantern using your red envelope

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