On Sunday, February 16th, the UBC Asian Library welcomed children and families for Kids Take Over UBC 2025. This year’s theme, “Bridges Across Time, Seasons, and Cultures in Asia,” was presented in collaboration with Nitobe Memorial Garden and Chung | Lind Gallery. As part of this theme, the library has created a special display showcasing various holidays and festivals across Asia.
The Asian Centre foyer features a New Year Celebrations in Asia display, highlighting Nowruz, Diwali, and Lunar New Year, their cultural significance, and associated traditions. Additionally, on the main floor of the Asian Library, an extended display presents storybooks on various holidays and festivals from China and Korea, along with specific celebrations such as Hinamatsuri (Japan), Tanabata (Japan), and Lohri (India).
This exhibition underscores the diverse ways communities across Asia mark the passing of time and the changing of seasons, emphasizing renewal, unity, and cultural heritage.
Explore More at the Asian Library
We invite you to visit the Asian Library to explore our carefully curated collection of books and resources on these and other cultural celebrations. As we prepare to celebrate Nowruz, we encourage everyone to learn more about the diverse traditions that mark the start of a new year across different cultures.
We hope this display serves as an opportunity to appreciate the diversity of New Year celebrations and the shared values of renewal, unity, and hope that connect us all. The display will be up until early April.
Nowruz: The Persian New Year
The display features a Haft-Seen table, an integral element of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Nowruz, meaning “new day” in Persian, heralds the arrival of spring and has been celebrated for over 3,000 years across regions influenced by Persian culture. The Haft-Seen table is adorned with seven symbolic items, each beginning with the letter ‘S’ in Persian:
Sabzeh (sprouts) – Symbolizing rebirth and renewal.
Samanu (sweet pudding) – Representing affluence and prosperity.
Senjed (dried oleaster fruit) – Signifying love and compassion.
Sir (garlic) – Denoting health and well-being.
Sib (apple) – Representing beauty and vitality.
Somāq (sumac) – Symbolizing the sunrise and the triumph of good over evil.
Serkeh (vinegar) – Denoting patience and wisdom.
Accompanying these are a mirror (self-reflection), candles (light and warmth), and decorated eggs (fertility and new beginnings). This arrangement offers a glimpse into traditions cherished by communities for millennia.
For those interested in learning more about Nowruz, we recommend:
Khorram, Adib. Seven Special Somethings: A Nowruz Story. Illustrated by Zainab Faidhi. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2021. This heartwarming children’s book explores the meaning of the Haft-Seen table. More information about this book’s availability at UBC can be found here.
Boyce, Mary, A. Shapur Shahbazi, and Simone Cristoforetti. “Nowruz.” In Encyclopaedia Iranica Online. Brill, 2020. This comprehensive academic resource details the history, evolution, and cultural significance of Nowruz. Access it here.
Lazarghulāmī, Ḥadīs̲. Amoo Nowrouz and Naneh Sarma [in Persian]. Iran: [Publisher not identified], 2015. This Persian-language children’s book narrates the traditional story of Amoo Nowrouz and Naneh Sarma. More information about this book’s availability at UBC can be found here.
You can also visit our Nowruz blog post for further insights.
Lunar New Year: A Celebration of Prosperity and Tradition
Although Lunar New Year has already passed, our display continues to highlight its symbolic decorations and cultural significance. Widely celebrated across China, Korea, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia, the festival welcomes the lunar calendar’s new year with joy, family gatherings, and traditional customs. Lunar New Year also marks the transition into a different Chinese Zodiac animal, following the cycle of twelve animal signs. This year is the Year of the Snake, associated with wisdom, intuition, and transformation in Chinese culture.
Our display features key elements of the celebration:
Firecracker Decorations – Firecrackers are traditionally set off to drive away evil spirits and bad luck while welcoming a prosperous new year. The red and gold decorations symbolize joy, wealth, and good fortune.
Lion Dance Head – The lion dance is a lively and energetic performance that brings luck and prosperity. The lion’s movements, often accompanied by drums and cymbals, are meant to chase away bad spirits and usher in happiness.
Lunar New Year Books – Our display includes several books related to the Lunar New Year, covering different cultural perspectives and traditions surrounding this important celebration.
- Zhang, Lizhang, comp. The Year of the Snake. Beijing: Hua Yu Jiao Xue Chu Ban She, 2019. This book explores the cultural significance and stories surrounding the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac. More information about this book’s availability at UBC can be found here.
Diwali: The Festival of Lights
Diwali, celebrated primarily by Hindus, is observed according to the Hindu calendar, in the month of Kartik, on the day of Amavasya (new moon). This corresponds to October or November in the Gregorian calendar. The festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.
Diwali is associated with Lord Rama, celebrating his return from exile after defeating Ravana, the ten-headed king of demons. It is also a time for worshipping Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the deity of wisdom.
Our display features key elements of this celebration:
Diyas (Clay Oil Lamps) – Traditional diyas are lit to invite prosperity and remove darkness, symbolizing hope and positive energy.
Candles – Alongside diyas, candles illuminate homes and public spaces, adding to the festive atmosphere.
3D Diwali Pop-up Card – A decorative display featuring “Shubh Deepavali” (Auspicious Diwali) along with sacred symbols like “Shri” (श्री), a Sanskrit term denoting wealth and prosperity, and “Om” (ॐ), a sacred syllable in Hinduism regarded as the greatest of all mantras.
Diwali Books – Our display includes several books related to Diwali, covering different cultural perspectives and traditions surrounding this important festival.
- Kumar, Manisha, and Monica Kumar. Diwali, A Festival of Lights and Fun. San Jose, CA: MeeraMasi, 2006.
This lively book introduces children to the excitement and traditions of Diwali. Through rhythmic storytelling and colorful illustrations, it follows a family as they bring the festival of lights to life, making the customs and joy of the celebration accessible to young readers. More information about this book’s availability at UBC can be found here.
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