Are you honest? Have a deep sense of loyalty that others can immediately sense? Naturally find yourself in leadership roles? Are you stubborn to the point of obstinacy? Then you have the traits of a Dog, and as of Jan. 29, it is your year -- at least according to the Chinese Zodiac.
The University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology will be kicking off the year of the Dog a week early on Saturday with its 25th annual Chinese New Year Celebration. The event, free for PennCard holders, will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Museum's Chinese Rotunda.
Museum Administrative Assistant Bethany Schell expects a much larger attendance than at last year's event, when a snowstorm resulted in a crowd of only 200 people.
"We're hoping for 3,000," Schell said.
The event will feature dance and music performances, as well as demonstrations of karate, vegetable carving, acupuncture and craft-making.
Several practitioners of spiritual discipline Falun Gong will be performing their healing exercises, banned by the Chinese Government.
Cheung's Hung Gar Kung Fu Academy of Chinatown will put on a martial arts exhibition in the museum's Harrison Auditorium. After the demonstration, they will provide the celebration's grand finale with a traditional Chinese Lion Dance, in which a dancer in a lion costume moves to the beat of gongs, drums and firecrackers.
Chef Joe Poon of the Joseph Poon Asian Fusion Restaurant will be demonstrating the art of vegetable carving.
"He is extremely talented. Last year, he carved a cage out of melon and then a bird out of a squash," Schell said.
Ching-Yao Shi will be lecturing on Chinese acupuncture and its effects on insomnia at 11:30 a.m. in the Rainer Auditorium.
Penn's Pan-Asian Dance Troupe will put on an eclectic show combining traditional Chinese dance with hip-hop and funk.
Other performances include a plum flower dance, a jade river dance, a tai chi exhibition and a traditional mei-mei dance.
Games, calligraphy and paper-cutting will be available throughout the day.
Visitors can also see the University Museum's collection of Chinese art, including a world-renowned exhibit of ancient monumental art.
Chinese New Year event schedule All events take place at the University Museum - 11 a.m.: Philadelphia Chinese Opera Society performance, Harrison Auditorium - 12:15 p.m.: Falun Gong -demonstration, Lower Egypt Gallery - 2:00 p.m.: Vegetable carving, Upper Egypt Gallery - 3:45 p.m.: Lion dance and parade, Harrison Auditorium
