EVENTS/FESTIVALS

While American New Year traditions can be as simple as busting open a bottle of bubbly, the dawning of the new year is a far more serious affair in China. The University of Pennsylvania's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology elucidates on that cultural difference with its 25th annual Chinese New Year celebration, an all-day event that touches on everything from calligraphy to kung fu. New this year, the Philadelphia Chinese Opera Society will be performing several works, including martial arts comedy "The Monkey King." World music fans will have a chance to learn the difference between Eastern and Western instruments from musicians Kurt Jung and Anna Chan. (Personally, we're betting the gu-zheng Chinese zither beats the harp to a stringy pulp.) Practitioners will demonstrate meditative and defensive techniques from tai chi and the Falun Gong movement, the latter of which has been outlawed by the Chinese government. Fresh off his grandstand performance at Latkepalooza, chef Joe Poon will be showing off his veggie-carving skills, while Dr. Ching-Yao Shi will teach folks how acupuncture can cure insomnia. Kids will dig the special Chinese zodiac workshop, lion dance finale and parade by Cheung's Hung Gar Kung Fu Academy. And you thought that all-you-can-binge drinkfest at Shampoo was entertaining.

Chinese New Year Celebration, Sat., Jan. 21, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., $5-$8, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 South St., 215-898-4000.