Chinese New Year - Food, love and nostalgia

Every culture has a significant time of the year when the family travels back and gathers, gifts are exchanged, kids wear new clothes, the house is filled with food and drinks, and laughter is passed on.?

?

It might be Eid, Christmas, or Diwali for you, and for me, it’s Chinese New Year. (Or other Asian cultures call it Lunar New Year - Should we stay away from being politically correct for a moment?)?

?

Like all traditional festivals in China, Chinese New Year is steeped with stories and myths. One of the most popular is about the mythical?beast Nian, who ate livestock, crops, and even people on the eve of the new year. (It's interesting that Nian, the 'yearly beast', sounds the same as 'year' in Chinese.) To prevent Nian from attacking people and causing destruction, people put food at their doors for Nian.

It's said that a wise old man figured out that Nian was scared of loud noises (firecrackers) and the color red. Then, people put red lanterns and red scrolls on their windows and doors to stop Nian from coming inside and crackled bamboo to scare him away.?

?

Nowadays, Chinese New Year is always about bonding with the family. Having spent the 11th Chinese New Year abroad, my new year celebrations always start with decorating the house with red scrolls on the gate, sticking paper-cutting on the window, and hanging the red lanterns. On New Year’s Eve, intensive video calls back home, dressing up the family with Chinese outfits, preparing the red envelopes for kids and making dinner together with friends create festive and nostalgic vibes.

?

As a kid, my favorite part was always to collect red envelopes and then put the money into a piggy bank which symbols freedom when it comes to snacks or a new CD. I would have been excited about visiting my grandparents for days. That means a house full of fried chicken and spring rolls, packed with candied nuts and fruit and a big red envelope.?

?

Chinese New Year is the only time of the year when I didn’t have to finish homework with discipline, as well as the only chance for a kid to stay up until the next morning. After midnight, my dad lit the long red firecrackers and fireworks together with our neighbours. My mum wrapped me warm and covered my ears from firecrackers. The whole street would be covered in red within half an hour. Then I would visit the Buddha temple with my dad, burn the incense and candles while whispering the new year’s resolutions, kneel on the mattress in front of statues, and hope every wish come true.?

?

Chinese New Year celebrations are a marathon of eating, drinking, and family gatherings. It starts on New Year’s Eve and officially lasts 15 days until Lantern Festival. That’s the time when values of family and interpersonal relationships get passed on through the food we put on the table, gifts and red envelopes get exchanged, and appreciation of family and friends comes into shape.

Xini Wei

VP Marketing