With February just a few days away, Asians in North Texas are gearing up to mark the Lunar New Year. The Year of the Tiger begins Feb. 14, and celebrations will take place all month.
The tiger represents the third year in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Like the zodiac signs in Western astrology, the animals of Chinese astrology are believed to dictate personality traits. So, what are common characteristics of people who were born in the Year of the Tiger? From the 20th century, that means those born in 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926, 1914 and 1902.
Like the proverbial kings of the jungle, people born under this sign are supposed to be fearless, unpredictable and adventuresome, but also protective, loving and charismatic. Year of the Tiger celebrities include Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sheryl Crow, Jay Leno, Demi Moore and Jon Stewart.
As far as predictions for what the Year of the Tiger will bring, the world can generally expect major changes and social upheavals. The volatile nature of the tiger can translate into a year full of surprises.
One of the first local events to kick off the Lunar New Year is a night of family fun held by the Chinese Institute of Engineers/USA’s Dallas-Fort Worth chapter. The event will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at J.S. Chen’s Dim Sum and BBQ at 240 Legacy Drive in Plano. The cost is $10 for members and $30 for others. To learn more about the organization, visit www.cie-dfw.org.
On Feb. 6, the Confucius Institute at the University of Texas at Dallas will welcome a Chinese University performance troupe to campus for a celebration of the Year of the Tiger. The troupe will present folk dances, swordplay and martial arts demonstrations, acrobatics, Peking Opera music and more at 7 p.m. in the Conference Center. The campus is at 800 W. Campbell Road in Richardson. Visit www.utdallas.edu/ah/events.
Also on Feb. 6, the Dallas and Fort Worth chapter of the Taiwanese Association of America will host a dinner banquet to welcome the Lunar New Year. The banquet will feature traditional dishes meant to bring prosperity during the year. The event will be from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Thanh Thanh Restaurant, 2515 E. Arkansas Lane in Arlington. The cost is $30 for adults and $25 for students. Call Sam Tsay at 972-342-8155.
As they say in Chinese, “Gung Hay Fat Choy!” (Happy new year!)
North Hills students journey to Singapore
North Hills Preparatory School in Irving was one of only two high schools nationwide to participate in The Hague International Model United Nations Conference in Singapore. Thirteen students at the November event were assigned to represent the small Southeast Asian island of Brunei Darussalam. They also participated in a Youth Assembly and worked on creating youth-doable solutions to global problems.
“We have gone to conferences in Denton and Oklahoma and were looking to broaden our experience,” said Model U.N. president and senior Jingshen Zhao. “One of the things we liked about THIMUN Singapore is that if your work is good and other nations accept your work, it is reported in the book that goes to the actual U.N.”
The club will host the Dallas Area Model U.N. conference on Saturday. The school is at 606 E. Royal Lane in Irving. Call 972-501-0645 or visit www.northhills prep.org.
Boxer honored by Filipino community
When Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao came to Arlington recently to announce an upcoming match at Cowboys Stadium, he received two awards from local Filipino groups. The Tarrant County Asian American Chamber honored him as the “Greatest Filipino Fighter of All Times.” He also was honored by Philippine Republic Day Inc. for “Outstanding International Achievement.”
Pacquiao will fight Joshua Clottey in a welterweight world championship bout on March 13 at the stadium. Upcoming events
Today
A reception and tea party to mark the end of “Hatsu-Ike,” an exhibit of ikebana by the Sogetsu School of Dallas Branch, will be at 3 p.m. at the Jaycee Park Center for the Arts, 2000 W. Airport Freeway in Irving. To RSVP, call 972-934-2882. www.ikebana-dfw.org
Saturday
The Muslim American Society will hold a blood drive from noon to 4 p.m. at the MAS Youth Center of Dallas, 740 F Ave. in Plano. The American Red Cross Bus will be at the center for the drive. For an appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org and use the sponsor code masyouth or call 972-633-9692.
The MAS Youth Center of Dallas will hold a workshop on “Recipes of Successful Marriages” from noon to 8 p.m. at the Islamic Center of Irving, 2555 Esters Blvd. The teachers will be Dr. Ekram Beshir and Rida Beshir. Registration required. 972-633-9692. www.masdfw.org.
The Davis Library at 7501-B Independence Parkway in Plano presents a Chinese New Year Lion Dance for all ages at 1 and 2:30 p.m. Call 972-208-8000.
The North Branch of the Denton Public Library presents its third Mini A-Kon event from 1 to 5 p.m. The North Branch will also present an anime art contest exhibit through Feb. 6. The North Branch is at 3020 N. Locust. 940-349-8741. www.dentonlibrary.com.
The DFW Asian Single 20/30s Meetup Group will have an Indian dinner and Tibetan drama program at 5:30 p.m. at Kalachandji’s Palace, 5430 Gurley Ave. in Dallas. The drama will be Milarepa at the Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Drive in Dallas. www.meetup.com/DFW-Asian- Single-20-30s-Group.
Ongoing
The Bath House Cultural Center presents the Tibetan drama Milarepa at 8 tonight through Saturday. The center is at 521 E. Lawther Drive in Dallas. $15; $10 for students. 214-670-8749.
“Seizing the New World: Recent Paintings by Yang Jin Long” runs through April 18 at the Crow Collection of Asian Art, 2010 Flora St. in Dallas. Admission is free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays to Sundays; and closed on Mondays. 214-979-6430. www.crowcollection.org.
The Irving Arts Center presents the Ten Thousand Springs Pavilion, a 9-foot model of the structure in the Forbidden City in Beijing, in its Carpenter Lobby through June. The center is at 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. 972-252-2787.
