By Khalida Sarwari
To celebrate the Year of the Ram, the Saratoga Rotary Club has a few events planned for members and non-members alike.
The first event takes place Feb. 20 from noon to about 1:30 p.m. and features a buffet lunch of Chinese fare catered by Our Lady of Fatima, followed by a PowerPoint presentation by Cynthia Chang, a Rotary member and vice president of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District board of trustees.
For her talk, Chang said she plans to present an overview of the origins and history of the lunar new year and Chinese customs and traditions. She’ll also discuss the lunar calendar as well as the 12 zodiac signs.
“The lunar new year is based on the lunisolar calendar we have,” Chang said. “I think for agriculture, the lunar calendar is much better, because for the farmers they can go by the lunar calendar and plant their seeds and harvest.”
She said she plans to invite Chinese calligrapher Zhong Yang Lu to demonstrate his craft and a musician to perform on a Chinese instrument.
“I just want to have a variety of programs and things that hopefully people will enjoy,” she said.
The main event takes place on Feb. 23, when the Rotary hosts a Chinese New Year dinner celebration at Hong Fu restaurant in Cupertino. That event takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. and the cost to attend, including a 10-course meal, tax, and tip, but excluding drinks, is $25.
“Last year we had 60 people,” Chang said. “This year I think we’ll have maybe 80 or 100. Not just members, but family and friends are also invited.”
Hakone will also be holding a Lunar New Year Festival on March 1. That event takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a double-lion dance, martial arts and musical performances, food booths, children’s activities and a docent-led tour of Hakone’s centennial exhibit at the Cultural Exchange Center.
Typically a 15-day holiday, Chinese New Year officially kicks off on Feb. 19. It is customary for those observing the holiday to mark the occasion by eating rice balls, which symbolize unity, said Chang. For New Year’s Eve dinner, some families will make fish, which represents fortune, luck and health.
“New Year’s Eve is very similar to Thanksgiving–how Americans celebrate Thanksgiving,” she said.
According to Chinese astrology, each year is associated with an animal sign, occurring in a 12-year cycle. This is the Year of the Ram.
Those interested in attending the Saratoga Rotary Club’s lunch and dinner events can contact Chang at 408.867.7111 or cyntchang@gmail.com.
