Now, I know what you're thinking - Chinese New Year has already come and gone. To that I say - ha! Remember the old Adam Sandler song about Hannukah? Where he gloats about his "8 crazy nights", as opposed to just one night of Christmas? Yeah...we've got fifteen days, y'all. Top that! Granted, there aren't presents every night, like Hannukah, but (in China) those 15 days are a time for family. Most offices are closed, and the time is spent around dinner tables, mah jong tables, and dim sum tables.
This was my idea of a joke. In Chinese, when someone sneezes, we say "daaih gat laih si" (big oranges and lucky money...just another version of "Bless You!"). For New Years, oranges play a prominent role (particularly clementines, with the leaves still attached). Red envelopes with Lucky Money (Hung Bao) are handed out to children and younger relatives. (I think it's a ploy to get kids to visit great-aints twice-removed during those 15 days of holiday...but I digress.) I took the Hung Bao we received and arranged them around these BIG oranges. Get it?
(Lo Gung, I'm expecting a few more explanations and/or corrections in the comments, m'kay? Thank.)
Hung Bao ought to be received with both hands, and you must say thank you, properly, for your gift. Do Jeh!
In Chinatowns all over the country, huge lion puppets, filled with skilled dancers, parade up and down the street spreading good luck and cheer. (Here, BBJ pays with a miniature puppet that Suk Gung and Suk Poh bought for her in NYC's Chinatown.)
(Siu Jeun and MaMa have a little chat on New Year's Eve.)In the end, New Years is all about family, and connecting, celebrating and protecting the ties between the generations. The young show respect to the older generations by serving them tea, wishing them health and luck, and by carrying on the honor and traditions of the family name.
That sounds a lot more meaningful than the American version of New Year's.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I love Chinese New Year. We were actually in China for CNY when we met Jarrah. And Jarrah has been in the lion for the dancing at our annual Families with Children from China banquet. Oh, and my e-mails is shgoldst@ucsd.edu.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. It looks like so much fun. I love books set in China and I've always been jealous of their New Year celebration.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your customs with us. It is so neat to learn about different cultures. I love the pictures too!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pics :) BBJ looks so excited for her laih si...did I spell that right? :)
ReplyDeleteSo... I have a question for you. It's kinda rude, so brace yourself. How much money do you/ should we place in the Hong Bao? Because I know we should avoid number 4 and 8 is encouraged, but is that typical? Do you give $8 or is more or less usually gifted?
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