New dress, check.
New haircut, check.
Pedicure, check.
Awe...Chinese New Years.
So, even though I am not Chinese, ok maybe that is stating the obvious, but I do love celebrating Chinese New Years, minus the firecrackers at 8:30 a.m.
It has taken me some time to finally sit down and write out my experiences during my second Chinese New Years because you see it is a busy time. Think of a typical North American Christmas and times it by 10. Yes, it's that busy. First its the work prior, such as cleaning the house, shopping for new clothes, baking cakes, preparing dishes, organizing open houses between relatives, oh yeah and getting pedicures and or manicures done. As you can see it's a lot of work.
The reality is Chinese New Years is a special and important time for the Chinese culture. It is a time where families and friends reunite, a time where the we would somewhat consider 'spring cleaning', and technically the New Year's is about the beginning of spring. There are so many traditions that are said to evoke good luck, or to bring wealth to a family. For example, most houses always have tikoy which is a type of sticky cake. This sticky cake is left out for the Kitchen Gods to receive on Chinese New Years Eve. It is believed that the sticky cake will cause the Kitchen Gods mouth to be stuck so that he can't 'badmouth' the family to the God of all Gods, this is also why everyone cleans their homes top to bottom right before the New Year begins.
I can't forget about the firecrackers, which are set up just before midnight on the eve of Chinese New Years. The firecrackers, and fireworks, are set off to celebrate the beginning of the New Year, but also to ward off bad spirits. Many families tend to enjoy the firecrackers a bit much and set them off nightly and some mornings as well throughout the celebrations. Oh and by celebrations I forgot to mention that Chinese New Years spans 15 days, although to be honest generally only first 5 or so are the major days...yes only 5.
This Chinese New Years is the Year of the Dragon, which is the fifth sign of the Chinese Zodiac. Since it is the year of the Dragon many traditional dances incorporate a dragon into the dance. Also in Miri each year a large market is held for a week prior to the New Year where a traditional Lion Dance is held each night. The market is always interesting with loads of food, and New Years items for sale.
The first day of Chinese New Years is always a flurry of activity. Everyone dons a new outfit and visits the elders in the family, or at least we do here. The rest of the days are generally spent visiting family or friends during the their open houses. We held an open house here on the fourth day in which friends and family came to visit. We also had traditional Lion Dancers visit the house. Lion Dances travel from house to house and business to business performing throughout the New Year celebrations. In return the family or business owners give them angpo (money in a red envelope). By having this dance performed at a home or business it is believed to bring luck and wealth to the family or business owner. I wonder if just being here will bring me luck. I can only hope.
This Chinese New Years is the Year of the Dragon, which is the fifth sign of the Chinese Zodiac. Since it is the year of the Dragon many traditional dances incorporate a dragon into the dance. Also in Miri each year a large market is held for a week prior to the New Year where a traditional Lion Dance is held each night. The market is always interesting with loads of food, and New Years items for sale.
The first day of Chinese New Years is always a flurry of activity. Everyone dons a new outfit and visits the elders in the family, or at least we do here. The rest of the days are generally spent visiting family or friends during the their open houses. We held an open house here on the fourth day in which friends and family came to visit. We also had traditional Lion Dancers visit the house. Lion Dances travel from house to house and business to business performing throughout the New Year celebrations. In return the family or business owners give them angpo (money in a red envelope). By having this dance performed at a home or business it is believed to bring luck and wealth to the family or business owner. I wonder if just being here will bring me luck. I can only hope.
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| Lion Dancers travelling door to door. |
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| Dancers at the Miri, Sarawak market. |
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| More dancers at the market. |
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| Escaping the crowds from the New Years market. |
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