The Lunar New Year was celebrated Feb. 8, and the Loyola Asian Student Organization looks to ring in the new lunar year with singing, dancing, and food at their Tet Event.

LASO’s Tet Event will be held Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. in the St. Charles Room, and it’s set to bring students together from all across the Gulf Coast to Loyola to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Typically, LASO puts on the Tet Event with University New Orleans or Tulane, but this is the first time multiple schools are participating, and LASO has been planning this event since summer.

Que Nguyen, psychology pre-health freshman and LASO member, said she is looking forward to combining traditions.

“It’s exciting seeing how everywhere else celebrates Tet and, by coming together, we will get to have really different aspects,” Que Nguyen said.

Not only will the event celebrate the Lunar New Year, but it will also raise money for Kids Without Borders, a philanthropy project that provides help for orphans to succeed once they leave their orphanages.

Nancy Nguyen, pschology pre-health junior and LASO president, said Kids Without Borders is a worthy cause to which to donate.

“Once they turn 18, they are kind of left off on their own, so Kids Without Borders provides sources for them: books, mentoring programs, and everyday education for them to be able to live on their own,” Nancy Nguyen said.

The Tet celebration is the biggest event in the Vietnamese year.

Anthony Tran, parish coordinator of Mary Queen of Vietnam Church, said this celebration is a way for people to welcome in the new lunar year and make peace with the previous year.

“As the clock strikes, fireworks are accompanied by dragon dancing, which symbolize the casting away of evil spirits and bringing in happiness,” Tran said.

LASO’s goal is to give people who attend the chance to celebrate and further raise awareness about the Asian culture at Loyola, as well as in the greater New Orleans community.