Skyline College welcomed the Year of the Snake in spectacular fashion on February 13, 2025 with a Lunar New Year Celebration that brought culture, tradition, and excitement to campus. The event, a collaboration between the Chinese Students & Scholars Association (CSSA), Associated Students of Skyline College (ASSC), and the International Student Program (ISP), marked the first lion dance performance on campus in over a decade.
The West Coast Lion Dance Troupe kicked off the festivities with two dazzling performances, making their way through Fireside Dining, and playfully engaging with the diners and cashiers. They continued to thrill the audience tossed mandarins and lettuce into the crowd. In Chinese tradition, mandarins symbolize good fortune (大吉大利) because their name sounds like the phrase for prosperity, while lettuce represents wealth (生财) as it sounds like “growing wealth.” The performance concluded with a classic “Drunken Lion” dance, masterfully performed by Head Instructor Sifu Tony Shiu. This routine depicts a lion stumbling as it becomes intoxicated by wine, only to regain its strength and composure — a powerful metaphor for resilience, personal growth, and transformation, perfectly aligning with the Year of the Snake’s themes of wisdom and renewal.
Following the lion dance, attendees moved upstairs for an engaging presentation by CSSA President Jiaxuan Qiao and ASSC member, Aung Htet Thu, who shared insights into Lunar New Year customs and traditions. Students also had the opportunity to play classic games like Chinese checkers and mahjong, practice calligraphy, and create scented pouches (香囊) — traditionally worn in ancient times for medicinal purposes, as symbols of love, or for decoration.
A delicious Chinese lunch featuring fried rice, noodles, pot stickers, and egg rolls kept the energy high as students gathered to celebrate. The event also featured a raffle with prizes generously donated by the Cosmetology, Automotive, Marketing, Communications & Public Relations (MCPR) departments, and an anonymous community donor.
Months of hard work and collaboration made this event a resounding success. A special thank you to the dedicated planning committee who made it all possible: Kelly Li, Nancy Lam, Mei Lee, Ryan Samn, Thanh Nguyen, Wendy Lee, Clair Yeo-Sugajski, Cassi Abregana-Reyes, Tim Luong, Jiaxuan Qiao, Sophia Escobar, and Alvin Macaldo-Gubatina. Additional thanks to Mariana Ramirez from Cosmetology for hair styling, the numerous student volunteers, and ASSC for the group hoodies!
As the Year of the Snake unfolds, CSSA looks forward to creating more opportunities to unite students and celebrate cultural traditions. The snake symbolizes wisdom, transformation, and resilience, making this year a perfect time to strengthen connections within the Chinese student community, while sharing traditions with the rest of the Skyline College campus. Through future events and celebrations, CSSA hopes to build friendships, promote understanding, and keep these cultural traditions alive for everyone to enjoy.
CSSA invites everyone to explore Chinese culture through cultural events, leadership opportunities, and community engagement. If you’re interested in joining, contact Club President Jiaxuan Qiao at qiaoj1@my.smccd.edu and follow them on Instagram at @skylinecollege_cssa. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!
Article by Mei Lee
Photos by Mei Lee, Kirsten Perez, and Vairea Samn
