Members and friends of the University's Chinese community will gather this weekend to celebrate the start of a new year.

The Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday of the Chinese calendar and marks the end of a year's harvest, said Parris Chang, professor of political science. The five-day festival is a time to reflect on past accomplishments and make plans for the future, Chang said.

"(The Chinese) enjoy the fruits of their hard work for the past year and hope for the next year to get better" during the holiday, he said.

The holiday gives Chinese families a respite from work and a chance to reunite, Chang said. But he said the mood surrounding this new year is more somber because of recent events, particularly the violent crackdown on peaceful student protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square last spring.

"In China it will be very low key because people will continue to feel sad," he said. "This past year politically has not been good and economically has not been so good."

But Taiwei Lu, vice president of the Chinese Friendship Association, said his organization will try to emphasize the positive this weekend.

"We have denounced the government and we cannot go home," he said, but added it is important to "make everyone feel we are still together."

Tomorrow -- the first day of the new year -- the Chinese Student Association will host a series of events in 112 Kern Building beginning at 2 p.m., said member James Chen. The day's events will include films, a talent show, a dinner party and a dance, he said.

The Chinese Friendship Association will host a dinner party featuring traditional Chinese food beginning at 6:30 p.m. Sunday in the HUB Ballroom, Taiwei said. Three awards will be presented to Americans who have shown strong support for the pro-democracy movement in China, he said.

After dinner, professional Chinese artists from New York City and association members will perform a variety of musical and dance numbers, with a dance party to be held afterwards, he said.

Tickets for the dinner will be sold at the door or can be purchased from association members in advance. The cost of tickets is $5. The performances and party are free and will be open to the public.