Thoughts on the New Year

Is it just me or is the Lunar New Year extra big this year across the globe? Not too long ago, there’d only be some passing acknowledgment that it was Chinese New Year or Vietnamese TET, and celebrations were limited to local communities. These days, it looks like the Lunar New Year is hitting the mainstream in the U.S. and before long I’m afraid it will turn into one of those commercialized-excuses-for-excessive-drinking holidays. Swap Cinco de Mayo’s tequila with insert-Asian-alcoholic-beverage of choice and you’ve got another culturally appropriated holiday! ‘murica!

Ok, so why am I talking about the New Year? One, because it’s this weekend, and two, because I haven’t greeted y’all a Happy New Year! This Year of the Water Rabbit is projected to be a Year of HOPE.

Growing up in Manila, I don’t recall any big Chinese New Year celebrations, except like if you visited Binondo, a district in Manila known as the Philippines’ Chinatown. Or as in our case, you have family members of Chinese descent. All I remember about Chinese New Year (and I know now it is more correct to say Lunar New Year because many other Asian cultures celebrate the New Year too, but really in the Philippines, it WAS Chinese New Year - not Tet or Seollal) - were the yummy?tikoy?(Nian gao), the lucky red envelopes filled with cash (hóngbāo), having to wear red for good luck, and saying?Kung Hei Fat Choy?(gōng xǐ fā cái) (Cantonese)

Note: Many Filipino-Chinese speak Cantonese and Fookien/Philippine Hokkien at home, rather than Mandarin, which some of them learn more formally at Filipino-Chinese schools.

Continue reading here>> https://filamjam.substack.com/p/greetings-for-the-new-year