Volunteer Gao Hong introduces students at New Milford High School to the origin of Monster Nian, against whom the Chinese people battled and then celebrated their victory with the Spring Festival.

That afternoon, the third session created a festive air at Pace University, where doors, walls, shelves and tables were spruced up with red scroll couplets and square papers, Chinese knots, panda dolls and shuttlecocks. Volunteer Guo Ruifen briefed the participants about Chinese people hanging the auspicious Chinese character of fu in reverse to extend their wishes that good luck had already arrived. She also explained the story of hongbao. 

On the first day of the Year of the Pig, Feb 5, teachers and students at Pace CI joined Chinese artist Zhang Guangcai to offer festive greetings at New York's Times Square. They handed out red scarves and papers fu to passers-by, filling the area with a joyous atmosphere. 

At the invitation of Pace CI, artists Zhang Guangcai, Zhai You and Fan Lei shared their calligraphy works featuring fu Feb 8, showing their expertise in various handwriting genres such as regular, clerical, seal, cursive and semi-cursive scripts. Their works also inspired students and teachers at Pace CI to try their hands at the Chinese character.