CHINESE CELEBRATE NEW YEAR

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 4, 1992                   TAG: 9202040260
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MAG POFF STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
CHINESE CELEBRATE NEW YEAR
Today is the lunar New Year, a time for firecrackers, festivities and - for the Roanoke Chinese community - a traditional feast.
In China, the arrival of a new year triggers a two-week celebration.
The lunar new year, Hsin Nien in Chinese, is the most important holiday of the year.
Chih-Nan Chang, president of the Chinese Association of Roanoke, said elders give children gifts of money and "everybody dresses in the best they can. . . . People will visit each other to extend greetings.
"And, naturally, they eat," Chang said.
Members of the association in Roanoke will eat their way through a feast to ring out the Year of the Sheep and to welcome in the Year of the Monkey.
But they will not set off the firecrackers that Chang said will be ignited throughout China in this season.
The lunar New Year, which is called Sol-Nal in Korea and Tet in Vietnam, is observed throughout the Orient.
The holiday begins New Year's Eve, but Chang said, "All the excitement takes place on New Year's Day." The celebration will last about 15 days.
Chinese families in Roanoke and the New River Valley will hold their observance at noon Saturday at the Fiji Island restaurant. Chang said a Saturday event allows more people to attend.
There was another celebration for New Year's Eve on Monday night at the Hunan Cottage restaurant on Franklin Road.
Owners John and Linda Ku laid a buffet feast for customers, friends and employees.
Both events were by invitation only.
Saturday's party for Chinese Association members will feature a buffet of rice sticks, braised duck and fried flounder, according to Charles Chang, owner of the Fiji Island.
Anne Cheng and Rong Rebecca Chang of Roanoke will present a program of traditional Chinese dancing.
Chen Li of Blacksburg will sing.
About 70 families belong to the Chinese Association, Chang said.
About 60 live in the Roanoke area and 10 come from the New River Valley.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB