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Serving Callaway County communities since 1875. www.fultonsun.com Sunday, July 05, 2009
Front Page Local News U.S. & World Sports Health News Financial News AP Video Archives Classified Ads MoDeals Place an Ad Photo Gallery Dear Abby Lottery Local Links General Info Contact Us Home Delivery News Tribune California Democrat	Posted: Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 - 09:13:01 am CST Email this story Printer friendly version Library to celebrate ‘Year of the Rat' By ROGER MEISSEN The Fulton Sun Children parade their newly created dragons around the Callaway County Public Library at last year's Chinese New Year event. (Contributed photo)   The year 2008 means out with the pig and in with the rat. The Callaway County Public Library will help usher in the Chinese New Year of the Rat and celebrate Chinese culture for its second year at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7. “It started with these monthly Spanish language play groups and has extended to this cultural experience,” said Tammy Gillespie, Missouri 4-H LIFE program director. “We thought it'd be good to expand and learn about a different culture.” Gillespie spearheaded last year's event before handing the reins to Jerilyn Hahn, Callaway County children's librarian. Hahn said she hopes to match last year's event, which drew more than 40 people of all ages to experience Chinese culture. “We'll learn to use chopsticks, make paper lanterns and the children will make some dragons,” Hahn said. Those attending will also hear from a couple of Asian students from William Woods University, she said. Brian Kuo, a Tawainese graduate student in Education will speak about traditional celebrations and the animal designations for each year. He said the rat is the first animal in a 12-year cycle of names, and symbolizes that people born in this year will be charming, creative, ambitious and friendly. “It was a story that was told in ancient Chinese times,” Kuo said. “They asked these 12 animals to compete at how they can deliver rice from heaven to earth. The rat happened to be the first one.” The celebration - which lasts 15 days - sets the tone for the upcoming year, Kuo said. Those who celebrate travel to their hometown for a New Year's Eve meal and set off fire crackers to drive away bad spirits. They dress in bright colors and buy candies, oranges and tangerines all to bring luck for the new year. “In Chinese, the words for those kinds of fruit are a synonym for good luck, because the word in Chinese is similar,” Kuo said. Local businesses also contribute to the program, Hahn said. The library is receiving help and donations from the University Extension office, China Palace restaurant, Dragon Kitchen restaurant and the Fulton UPS Store. Last year they donated chop sticks, Chinese stamps, food and fortune cookies. The program allows the Asian businesses an outlet to more fully show area residents their culture. “I think it's increasing the community's awareness about other cultures,” Hahn said.
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