On Feb. 3, Chinese all around the world will be giving hong bao (red envelopes containing cash) to their family members, eating hot pot dinners and participating in lion-dance performances. Max Xu '13, co-president of BC3, talks to justArts about how the club will usher in the Year of the Rabbit in two weeks. JustArts: Why do people celebrate the Lunar New Year?

Max Xu: Lunar New Year is the beginning of the new year on the lunar calendar, which is shifted over by a couple months from the Gregorian calendar. It typically is a time to get together with family and friends, and everyone in China gets several days off from school and work to enjoy the company of loved ones.

JA: Why is the holiday important for Brandeis students?

MX: For Brandeis students who celebrate Lunar New Year, it's a time to call or Skype loved ones and wish them a happy new year as well as celebrate with loved ones in whatever regard they can. For those who don't typically celebrate the Lunar New Year, it's an important holiday among Asian cultures that will hopefully become more well-known over time as more than simply an excuse for those lucky Chinese kids to get free money from their parents (until you finally find a spouse and marry at whatever age, you typically will receive a red envelope containing money from your parents on Lunar New Year)!

JA: What does the Chinese New Year mean for you?

MX: Chinese New Year is always a great excuse to eat way too much Chinese food both at home and out in Chinatown. As an American-born Chinese, I've never enjoyed the long break from school that international students rave about, but the atmosphere during the days leading up to and during the Lunar New Year is always relaxed.

JA: What should students expect for the performance?

MX: Lunar New Year is easily BC3's biggest event of the year, and showcases a variety of performances ranging from traditional Chinese dance and singing acts to comedy and skits. There will be outside performers as well as student performers. The event will be held in a completely decorated Levin Ballroom, and promises to be a spectacular event!

JA: With the event at Levin Ballroom for the first time, how will Lunar New Year be different?

MX: Last year we ran into some overcrowding issues with audience members standing in the aisles and causing fire hazards because there were no more seats. The Levin Ballroom allows for a much larger audience as well as a wider atmosphere, and we hope the venue will allow for even more people than last year!

JA: What is your favorite part of Lunar New Year?

MX: My favorite part of Lunar New Year is the Lion Dance. The dance is typically several minutes long and features impressive acrobatic and rhythmic performances by the head and rear of the lion, done completely in sync. Kids always love it, too! Their jaws drop at the end when the two parts of the Lion stand up and reveal themselves.

JA: Who have you been collaborating with to organize the event?

MX: This year, we've received help from members of Brandeis Asian American Student Association and Southeast Asian Club, in addition to partnering with several outside performing organizations and the East Asian Studies program. This was all done in order to expand Lunar New Year beyond previous years, and we can't thank everyone who helped out enough for supporting our venture.

JA: With less than 2 weeks to go until the event, what will the process be like in putting everything together?

MX: This year we opted for a much earlier event date (last year, we didn't have Lunar New Year until mid-February), so we still have plenty of work to do in preparation for Jan. 29. Flyering and performance rehearsals are the biggest things we have to accomplish these upcoming weeks. Every year, our executive board develops several ulcers and grows dozens of white hairs organizing Lunar New Year, and this year will be no different-I would be lying if I said we weren't all freaking out a bit (especially Karen Hu '12, this year's event's coordinator and last year's co-president, who is the mastermind behind the entire event. Without her we wouldn't have much of a show!)

JA: Will there be free food at the event?

MX: Part of me wants to say "No, there will be no food served at the event, free or otherwise," but in fact there will be so much free food (over $1,000 dollars worth, just like last year's showing) that I wouldn't be able to come close to finishing it if I tried hoarding it all for myself. It would be a shame if nobody showed up and I ended up having to take all of it home with me.