LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky has been partnering with local community members and centers to honor and teach the community about the Lunar New Year. 

Welcoming in the Lunar New Year, Shinyi Yang said playing a cultural instrument allowed her to honor her culture’s history. 

Yang said it’s an instrument that has been passed along since ancient times, carrying over 2,500 years of history. 

“I think that’s because a large Chinese instrument has come from outside the country and it has become a traditional instrument,” Yang said. 

Feb. 1 marked the start of the Lunar New Year, which is the year of the tiger.

“It’s the Lunar New Year because we follow the Lunar calendar. So each year it happens on different days for most of the time. Like the end of January or the beginning of February,” Yang said.

Lexington artist Constance Grayson has been fascinated with Eastern culture for years. 

“The more I studied them, the more the depth and the complexity and the attention to detail, and the effort to master a skill or a traditional dance or song or art form. It just was appealing to me,” Grayson said.

Along with music, Grayson joined in on celebrations by displaying her art work. The pieces were deeply inspired by the culture.

“It’s a group of fabric designs with fabric base pieces,” Grayson said.

For the past two years, she has been working to honor the Eastern culture within her artwork. 

“If they live in Vietnam or China or Japan or Korea want the same things we do, they want peace. They want to live a happy life,” Grayson said. “They want a healthy life, they want our family and spiritual outlets. I mean, we have so much in common. I think we forget that.”

Yang said it’s a chance for people to come together, and pass along their blessings to the younger generations. And events like these allow an opportunity for people to learn and experience the lunar new year.

This event was just one of many the University of Kentucky has hosted throughout the week. Craft nights, art shows, music and fashion shows are all part of the festivities.

The Lunar New Year is a 15-day celebration and ends on Feb. 15, 2022.