Chinese New Year Traditions
February 24, 2008
Chinese New Year Celebration is based on the start of the Lunar Year. As the year starts, there are a lot of activities Chinese practice to welcome the year with ,luck, fortune and prosperity.
Back in China, there were a lot of temple fairs and fireworks during Chinese New Year’s Eve. Scheduled huge fireworks were anticipated especially in the central area of Beijing. We had our own celebration in a traditional Chinese restaurant called Hua Jia Yu Yuan. It was a feast literally as we devour ala carte orders that was a set for Chinese New Year.
In Beijing, the streets are almost empty as a lot of people who came from different provinces went back to their home to celebrate this holiday. It was expensive to rent a van this time of year as they would not wait for you until the wee hours since the drivers will also celebrate with their families.
Back in the Philippines, we celebrated Chinese New Year but not so much as Christmas or New Year. We had our usual tikoy (sticky rice) and other round fruits for offering. We would usually spend the eve with our relatives and just eat and talk/gossip.
Here in Singapore, it is a tradition to give ampao to those who aren’t married yet. Families do their usual visitation during these season and eat steamboat (hot pot) at home most often. They also have this Lo Hei tradition where people gather and mix these together for health, prosperity, fortune etc. It’s quite fun tossing this up and down plus I think it’s yummy!
It’s fun trying out traditional activities as you get to feel the culture of each. Chinese have so many different traditions and I like to compare notes on each one haha!
Kong Hei Fat Choi! Have a happy 2008 everyone!
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