For members of the Chinese community, dancing lions -- not "Auld Lang Syne" -- are integral to New Year festivities.
So it's no surprise that a traditional lion dance was a major part of the 21st-annual Chinese New Year Celebration, held at the University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology on Saturday.
Activities included performances of Chinese dances and music, craft-making, demonstrations of Tai Chi and Kung Fu and lectures on Chinese medicines.
Pam Kosty, assistant director for public information at the museum, pronounced the event a success, estimating that "around 2,000" people, mostly area families, attended.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for [Chinese Americans] to share their culture," she said.
Visitors came for many reasons. Harleysville, Pa., resident Jenny Klinger brought her adopted Chinese daughter, Alicia.
"I like to keep involved in the cultural activities of China," she said.
Glenside, Pa., resident Maurice Castronuovo also said he brought his adopted Chinese daughter in order to "expose her to the tradition of Chinese New Year."
Others came out of curiosity. Philadelphia resident Victor Khalif attended just "to see something different, something new."
Some of the most popular attractions were the performances by dance and musical groups.
The Chinese Musical Voices, a group based in the Delaware Valley, gave a concert of Chinese folk music.
"The singing was beautiful," Klinger said.
The Jade River Dancers, a group from New Jersey, also performed traditional Chinese dances, such as the Hat Dance and the Iron Fan Dance.
Besides enjoying the entertainment, visitors could also try their hands at Chinese crafts like paper cutting, painting and calligraphy. Tables were also set up to display and sell Chinese items.
Penn's Chinese Student Association staffed a table to show visitors "a little bit of pop culture [and] a little bit of art," said Engineering junior and Association President Franklin Shen.
Another popular attraction was the martial arts demonstration.
Philadelphia resident Victor Allegretti, 10, came "mostly to learn about Tai Chi and Kung Fu." After watching the demonstration, visitors were able try the arts themselves, with the help of the experts.
The celebration's high point was Chung's Hung-Gar Academy's performance of the traditional lion dance, held in the museum's courtyard.
Members of the Academy performed the dance wearing five giant cloth lion costumes.
"The lion dance represents good luck and chases away evil spirits," said an Academy member, who goes by the name Rome.
According to Kosty, the dance was the crowd's favorite part of the celebration.
"It's a great finale," she said.
