North Texas Daily

Kaleigh Gremaud / Staff Writer

From 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Thursday, the Library Mall met students with a festive mood as the University Program Council celebrated its recurring World Holiday Fair.

“The fair basically incorporates world holidays,” vice president of membership for UPC and education junior Victoria Ellis said. “Different tables tell about different holidays in other parts of the world.”

Students checking in with their student ID or ID number and were able to enjoy hot chocolate, hot apple cider and cookies as they went around the different tables.

The Chinese New Year was represented at the fair. Chinese students offered to write other students’ names in Chinese as a part of the culture experience, as well as discuss the Chinese New Year.

February is the Chinese New Year in the traditional calendar year. However, each year the specific date changes. Each year has an animal to represent the year, which  also describes the personality of someone born during that year.

“This year is the year of the horse. The horse represents someone to be more aggressive, hardworking, similar to how a horse never lies down to sleep,” second-year masters student Junan Shen said. “Next year is the year of the sheep. Sheep represents someone to be more kind and giving.”

The Mexican culture was represented in the fair. Nov. 20 holds special meaning in the Mexican community. The Mexican Revolution started Nov. 20, 1910 and ended in 1920. The people revolted in protest of the corruption of the Mexican government.

Students were also able to make a holiday craft. Education junior Patricia Ballesteros showed students how to make a candy cane reindeer.

“We use a candy cane for the reindeer, a red pompom for the nose, brown pipe cleaner for the antlers and we have eyes to glue on,” Ballesteros said.

For students who like Hershey kisses, UPC had some wrapped in blue and white to represent the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah at the table with the candy cane reindeer.