On Jan. 29, we bid farewell to the Year of the Dragon and usher in the Year of the Snake, which, according to the Chinese Zodiac, represents harvest, spirituality and good fortune. Lunar New Year celebrations last up to 15 days and include such various customs as gathering with family, preparing traditional foods, artistic performances and the gifting of red envelopes to pass on good fortune and blessings to the younger generations.

Students enjoy the 2024 Orange After Dark/Center for International Services Celebration

For international students on campus looking for a taste of home or for anyone who simply wants to celebrate a new beginning based on the lunar calendar, check out the following selection of Lunar New Year events being held on campus.

Tuesday, Jan. 28—Asian American Journalists Association Celebration

The will hold a Lunar New Year Celebration in Newhouse 1 Room 303 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be fun activities, delicious food and an amazing night planned for all!

Wednesday, Jan. 29: Food Services Pop-Up

Campus Dining centers will host pop-up events in all dining centers at dinnertime, with a build-your-own stir fry station featuring noodles, rice and extra toppings; dumplings and spring rolls.

Wednesday, Jan. 29: Newhouse International Students Association Tabling Event

The will host a tabling event in food.com, located on the second floor of Newhouse 3, from noon to 1 pm. Stop by to get your lucky red envelope and Asian treats to celebrate the Year of the Snake.

Friday, Jan. 31: School of Architecture Lunar New Year Celebration

A will be held in Slocum Hall from 5 to 7:30 p.m., organized by international students in the and Dean Michael Speaks.��Students can engage in a wide range of activities, such as knot tying, calligraphy, fortune scratch-offs, Chinese horoscopes and a photo booth. There will also be musical and vocal performances and a dancing dragon. Food, chocolate coins and traditional candies, and tea with Dean Speaks will be served.��A series of short faculty presentations on East Asian culture and architecture will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 31: Orange After Dark/Center for International Services Lunar New Year Celebration

��The campus community is invited to celebrate the Lunar New Year with Orange After Dark and the from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. in 304 ABC Schine Student Center.��There will be a light Chinese buffet and activities, including making a Chinese lucky knot, creating PaperCut, origami, Wish Tree, chopstick bean relay race and calligraphy. Tickets can be obtained through the .

Friday, Feb. 7: Chinese United Student Association and Chinese Student and Scholars Association Chinese New Year Party

The and the will host a Chinese New Year Party at 6 p.m. in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium. There will be programs relating to Chinese culture, dance, martial arts and music.

Share Your Lunar New Year Photos With Us!

However you decide to celebrate—whether at the events mentioned above or elsewhere—send your photos to SU News! Email��newsphoto@syr.edu��and we’ll share a selection of Lunar New Year pictures in the weeks to come.

Joe Sidoni, associate director of Drumlins food and beverage, carves a turkey as students look on (Photos by Chuck Wainwright)

The University’s International Thanksgiving Celebration marked its 40th anniversary on Nov. 21 in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium. The beloved University tradition is believed to be the only celebration of its kind on a college campus in the United States.

Students David Ojo and Stephanie Hua served as the evening’s emcees

The seed for today’s celebration was planted in 1965 when T.E. Koshy left his home in India and came to ���ϲ����� to pursue a doctoral degree in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. With no family in ���ϲ�����, no car and few resources, he found himself homesick, recalls his son, Jay Koshy.

“He was in his room one day, probably feeling a little bit lonely, and came up with an idea. God was speaking in his heart, telling him to reach out to fellow international students and be a blessing,” Koshy says.

T.E. Koshy, who later became the University’s Evangelical Christian chaplain, started serving free meals to international students, a practice that continues to this day through the Evangelical Christian chaplaincy at Hendricks Chapel, which Jay Koshy now leads.

T.E.’s wife, Dr. Indira Koshy, joined him in ministry to the campus community. They decided to start offering a free Thanksgiving meal to international students. “It was a great opportunity to provide a blessing to students, most of who had not experienced an American Thanksgiving meal and who could not go home for the holidays,” says Jay Koshy.

In the early years, the meal was offered in Rockefeller Church in the University’s eastern neighborhood. There, the Koshys and Indira’s mother, Dinah Perry, provided a sense of family and community for international students. In subsequent years, the celebration moved to campus.

Evangelical Christian Chaplain Jay Koshy, back row center, has been to every dinner since its inception and has been a table host for many years. His father, the late T.E. Koshy, began the tradition, Jay’s son, Josh Koshy ’24, stands next to him.

The Nov. 21 celebration was sponsored by the Chancellor’s House and the Center for International Services. Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and Juan Tavares, director of the Center for International Services, serve as co-hosts. Stephanie Hua, an undergraduate student in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and David Ojo, a Ph.D. student in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, served as the evening’s emcees.

This year’s event was attended by more than 600 people. During dinner, table hosts—faculty, staff and community members—engaged attendees in conversation and answered questions about the history and traditions of Thanksgiving. It’s also an opportunity for those attending to learn about different cultures. Jay Koshy, who has attended every celebration since its inception, offered the invocation and served as a table host. His son, Josh Koshy ’24, also attended.

Regina Jones and Neal Powless delivered the Native Thanksgiving Address

The Native American blessing was given by Regina Jones, member of the Oneida Nation Turtle Clan and retired assistant director of the University’s Native Student Program, and Neal Powless, member of the Onondaga Nation Eel Clan and University ombuds.

Food Services prepared and served traditional Thanksgiving fare: 600 pounds of turkey, 15 gallons of gravy, 250 pounds of mashed potatoes, 200 pounds of corn and 135 pies. Kosher and Halal turkey and vegetarian options were also served. Vendors from the greater ���ϲ����� area donated the food, linens and table decorations.

A highlight of the evening was the ceremonial carving of the turkey on the Goldstein Auditorium stage. Students, with camera phones in hand, eagerly crowded around Associate Director of Drumlins Food and Beverage Joe Sidoni as he carved the turkey.

A musical performance was given by Ania Kapplani, Catherine Cosenza and Kai Wong, jazz and commercial music studies students in the Setnor College of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The evening closed with a benediction by Christian Protestant Chaplain Devon Bartholomew.

Michael Tick, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, serves to students at his table

“It was my honor to co-host the 40th Annual International Thanksgiving Celebration,” says Tavares. “I really enjoyed sharing this time at the table with nine students from different countries. I am especially grateful for the Chancellor and Dr. Chen’s continued support of this tradition.”

Tula Goenka, professor of television, radio and film in the Newhouse School, attended the first dinner 40 years ago. She was an international student studying for a master’s degree in the Newhouse School. She attended with her housemate, who was also an international student.

After years as a filmmaker, Goenka returned to the Newhouse School to teach. She has served as a table host at the celebration for many years. As the Newhouse Dean’s Leadership Fellow, one of her charges is outreach to international students.

“When I realized it had been 40 years since that first dinner, it was a full-circle Thanksgiving for me. I have been fortunate to not only teach hundreds of students over the years, but also help create a sense of belonging,” she says.

Chancellor Kent Syverud hosted a table and gave welcoming remarks at the celebration

Jedidiah Koubiessi, a first-year student from Monrovia, Liberia, attended for the first time. This was her first experience with the traditional American Thanksgiving.

“It was a good way to bond and celebrate together,” she says. “Thanksgiving as a whole is very meaningful to me, as it is always good to reflect and see how far I have come, and be thankful for my journey so far.”

Jay Koshy says his parents, who have both passed away, would be proud to see the tradition that they established and nurtured continues to flourish today. “They would be thrilled that it is continuing and would be thrilled to see the care they have for their international students during Thanksgiving,” he says. “I am so thankful to Dr. Chen and Chancellor Syverud and to all who are involved. I know international students are thankful and blessed to be able to experience this.”

Students enjoy the celebration