Happy New Year of the Dog

Home, again.

Flew home just in time for New Year's Eve dinner three days ago.
A quiet little get together, though the food was not much, the most important was the company. It's been more than five years (or longer) since mum, dad and　me got together for the Lunar New Year celebration. So coming home, just in time for the occassion, especially returning from so far away, had symbolic meanings, symbolic gestures.

No hectic preparation or partying, no karaoke or mock gambling games like in my SOASian years (years at university). Just dinner, with family. Just talk, with close loved ones.

It's kind of strange to be here for the lunar new year, after such a long time away from home. A friend of mine, with whom I was travelling with, had to remind me of some of the traditions, such as wearing brand new (preferably red, the colour of good fortunes) clothes on New Year's day.

For ethnic 'Chinese' (though not restricted to just 'Chinese', since many in South-East Asia celebrate too) the Lunar New Year is more important than the actually new year on January 1st. It's sort of like our version of Christmas, where families get together, when a joyous and festive mood hangs around in the run up to the festivities, while generous gifts and hung-bao 紅包 (red envelops with money inside) are exchanged with close family and friends.

In total the festivities last around a month, starting in the eve of first day of the first month. A family reunion 團圓 is part of the tradition, and foods must be specially prepared and eaten to ensure the following year is abundant with remains and good fortunes. Gods and deities and ancestors (should you have them at home) must be paid respect to on the first. Usually temples big and small around the island are packed full with well-wishers, each hold numerous incense sticks and wielding a mounthful of prayers and wishes for the coming year.

I personally went to Lungshan Temple, the oldest temple in Taipei, and never have I seen so many people crowding feverishly to stand before the buddhas and local deities. Suprising the amount of chocking incense sticks and people did not cause any unfortunate accidents. The prayers are the usual: hopes for a better life, a better career, more wealth and prosperity, more good fortunes and less bad luck etc, etc, etc. Somehow, perhaps it's a very Chinese culture, getting rich 發財　or wishing others to get rich, seems to hang at the corners of every conversation.

In the evenings, around temples and night markets, there are fireworks are set off and children play around carrying lanterns and Cinderalla sticks. Myth has it, the word for year 'nian2' 年 originally scared people stiff, as it was a hideous monster which would come once a year to eat people and disturb peace and life. One time, some people thought of using firecrackers to scare off the beast. They put out offerings of flowers and food and fruits to lure the beats, then when it came set off firecrackers which sent the beast fleeing. That tradition has since thus remained till this day.

On the second day, the tradition is for the wife/daughter married off to another family to go to their in-laws and spent time there. Not sure how this tradition came about, but today, out of fear of horrible traffic jams on the highways and byways, people tend to go either earlier or later. Work does not normally start until the fifth day. But the fireworks do not stop until much later.

So here is a (belated) year wish to everyone around the world who celebrates lunar new year.

May you all be happy, prosperous, healthy and well in the year to come.

新年恭喜,
萬事如意!