Red lanterns, bright paper crafts and the click of chopsticks filled the first-floor lobby of Fondren Library Feb. 17 as Rice University students, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the Lunar New Year and welcome the Year of the Horse.
For two hours in the afternoon, the normally quiet study space transformed into a lively, come-and-go celebration hosted by Fondren Library’s Lunar New Year Planning Committee, blending hands-on activities with opportunities to learn more about the holiday’s traditions.
“Lunar New Year is a significant cultural milestone, and we wanted to bring that spirit to Fondren,” said Jane Zhao, director of the digital media commons at the Fondren and co-organizer of the event. “Watching students and community members celebrate side by side has made this event incredibly meaningful. It’s been a lot of fun, but more importantly, it’s brought people together.”
Long tables were stocked with colorful paper, markers and glue as attendees designed their own bookmarks, holiday greeting cards and festive lanterns. Students paused between classes to fold, cut and decorate, comparing designs and helping one another follow the step-by-step instructions provided by library staff.
Just a few feet away was the chopsticks challenge, where participants tested their dexterity by seeing how many M&Ms they could pick up and transfer one by one. What started as a simple game quickly turned into friendly competition, with onlookers cheering classmates and co-workers as they tried to beat one another’s scores.
Others stopped to sample traditional Chinese candies or snap pictures beneath a Lunar New Year banner, while many browsed a curated display of Asian-themed books and materials pulled from the library’s collections. The exhibit highlighted literature, history and cultural traditions connected to the holiday.
Observed across many Asian cultures, the Lunar New Year marks the start of the lunar calendar and is often associated with family gatherings, renewal and hopes for good fortune. Each year corresponds to one of 12 zodiac animals with 2026 ushering in the horse — a symbol of energy, perseverance and forward momentum.
Fondren Library’s annual Lunar New Year Planning Committee includes Zhao, Anna Xiong, Hannah Edlund, Anna Shparberg, K. Sarah Ostrach, Amanda McClendon and Jeanette Sewell.