Families and students from different cultures celebrated the Chinese New Year with singing, dancing and music on Sunday night.
The Chinese zodiac's Year of the Dragon began Monday.
On the eve of the holiday, dancers spun umbrellas and waved ribbons, and ballerinas in hot pink and blue tutus glided across the stage at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
About 600 people attended the event, which was sponsored by the Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars.
Some Chinese New Year traditions include shooting off fireworks at midnight, hanging the Chinese character "fu," which represents good luck and blessings, and eating dinner with family, said Qiushi Li, a philosophy sophomore.
Since he couldn't participate in his family's Chinese traditions this year, Li celebrated the New Year his own way.
"I went to Bento," he said.
Lesa Boykin, UF residence director, said she likes going to the Chinese New Year celebration because she can interact with people from all cultures.
"It's most important to support each other, especially because it's their most important holiday," she said.
