February 8, 2016 was Chinese New Year and across the world in major cities there were celebrations to welcome the year of the Monkey.
The most distinctive feature of the Chinese New Year, when I was growing up in Mauritius, was the setting off of firecrackers. Firecrackers were traditionally used to scare off evil spirits. I remember clearly on New Year day, as early as the first cockcrow, the clacking sound of firecrackers around town. When one string of firecrackers had reached its end, another would be starting somewhere else as if they were in a relay.
When I arrived in Hong Kong in 1966 the use of firecrackers continued at Chinese New Year. I remember people going to Victoria Park in Causeway Bay (still going strong today) to “walk” the flower market, a huge gathering of makeshift stalls selling flowers and plants and other joyous articles fit to buy during the New Year. Then there were people who would be lighting firecrackers and throwing them at the crowd in their lust for excitement and fun. Needless to say accidents did occur, causing bodily harm to people, particularly small kids. A couple of years later Hong Kong completely banned the use of firecrackers. Instead, since 1982, The Hong Kong Government organizes fireworks in Victoria Harbour on the Second day of the Chinese New Year. Many countries have also banned the use of firecrackers but still some diehard fanatics would acquire smuggled firecrackers and set them off to satisfy their desire.
Firecrackers dramatic and boisterous at Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year remains the most celebrated festivity in China. All factories in China close for a straight seven to ten days or more, to allow workers to go back to their hometown to unite with their parents and relatives. This year 50,000 people, eager to get home for the New Year reunion, were stranded at Guangzhou train station in Southern China for several days when adverse weather conditions delayed a series of trains.
Compared to Mauritius, Chinese New Year in Hong Kong is more elaborate, more traditional, more flamboyant and more pompous. It all starts several days before the arrival of the New Year. Families would ensure that their homes are spotless and that they have paid off all their debts, so as to start the New Year on a clean slate. Sweeping the floor during New Year is taboo as it means sweeping away the good fortune of the household.
A typical home would have on its wall red posters and cutouts depicting auspicious Chinese calligraphic words such as “good fortune”, “prosperity” and “good health”. Flowers and plants are also very important decorative accessories, the most popular plants are the “Kumquat” and “Peach Blossom”. Kumquat which resembles a small orange the size of a large olive has the Chinese words “gold and luck” in it and so is very auspicious, a symbol of abundance and happiness. Peach Blossom symbolizes growth, prosperity, long life and romance, and is particular favoured by singles in search of a soul mate and business owners in hope of making more money. In Hong Kong it has become an unofficial annual event for restaurants to compete for the honour of displaying the most beautiful “Peach Blossom Tree” at the entrance of their establishments, leading business owners to bid in the thousands of dollars to get their hand on the best tree, can be as tall as thirty feet high, from commercial growers.
Paper cutout always red in colour brightens Chinese homes in Hong Kong
Kumquat on sale at Victoria Park New Year “Flower Market” in Hong Kong
Chinese are very superstitious when it comes to colour. Red represents Good Luck and is extensively used on happy occasions such as Chinese New Year, wedding, graduation and arrival of a new baby. On New Year morning we all have to wake up earlier than usual, wear our best clothes often complemented with a red traditional Chinese jacket. The first words we say on New Year day when we see other members of the family and acquaintances, are “Kung Hei Fat Choy”, translates as “Congratulations on achieving prosperity”. This greeting is said respectfully with our two hands clasped into a ball close to our chest like when praying.
Next come the most exciting part for the children. Parents would hand to the kids small red envelopes containing lucky money known as “Lai See”. Lai See is presented with both hands and received with both hands, accompanied by a small bow of the head, as a sign of respect and good manner. Lai See is supposed to bring good luck and prosperity and ward off evil spirits.
Receiving “Lai See” by young girl in red traditional New Year dress.
The giving of “Lai See” brings a lot of joy to a lot of people at Chinese New Year. Children and unmarried persons no matter their age, eagerly look forward to receiving the red packet not only from the parents, but also from relatives, acquaintances and parent’s friends and colleagues. Unintentionally a competition of some sort comes into play among the children to see who would end up with the most money. The red envelope contains money which sum is typically even number and must not contain the number “Four” which sounds like the Chinese word for death. If you are married and you come face to face with children of relatives or friends, you are expected to give them a red packet. Else you would end up harshly embarrassed by the thought that people are gossiping behind your back as being a devil of a miser. In all reality some real misers would avoid such embarrassment by quickly switching direction and disappearing out of sight of incoming relatives and friends.
There are also other groups of people who look forward to Chinese New Year in order to receive a red packet and they are no children. We can count among others, employees receiving Lai See from the boss, waiters from the diners, garbage collectors from the landlords, butchers and vegetable sellers from the customers. After all they deserve it, don’t they!
At Chinese New Year it is traditional and respectful for people to personally pay a visit to other important and revered relatives, friends and colleagues at their place of residence to offer gifts and best wishes. Husband and wife may go together or either one alone. A child may plead to go along, and it is often allowed, as it is an opportunity for the kid to receive more lucky money.
Some people use this Chinese New Year tradition to suck up to their boss and people of position. The most common is where a low rank employee visits a superior to offer gifts and good wishes in the hope that he would receive favourable consideration when an important position is available at the office. Likewise owners of small business would bring gifts to senior staff of large corporations, so that they may be favoured with some future business contracts. To play the politic well, the visitor always tries to be the first in line at the host’s house, so that the event may be easily remembered and produce the desired effect. Interestingly the third day of New Year is a day to remain home so as to avoid encountering evil spirit on the streets, less visiting people on this day ends up in quarrel.
Every family would also make sure that they have lots of goodies in the house as a sign of prosperity and abundance. My mother used to make deep fried sesame balls made of flour and sweet potato, shrimp chips and deep fried pretzel shaped crispy crackers. They were stored in large glass jars to be enjoyed in the New Year but as a kid I could not resist sneaking into the room to get my hand on some beforehand.
My mother made delicious sweet chewy sesame balls for us at New Year
It is paramount that all members of the family gather together with parents and grandparents to have a “family reunion dinner” on the first day of New Year. Some filial sons and daughters even travel half way round the world, as necessary, just to be home for the dinner. The dishes at the table are carefully selected, dishes must carry names that sound propitious, such as oyster which sounds like “good thing” in Chinese. The black moss, a black hair like weed, sounds like “become rich”. Fish sounds like “surplus” of money. Round ball in soup sounds like “reunion”. New Year cake sounds like “year by year advancement”.
Paying homage and offering thanks to God during New Year is widely practised in Hong Kong. Most families would burn joss sticks at home, other more superstitious worshippers would go to their favourite temple, the most patronized being Wong Tai Sin Temple in Kowloon and Che Kung Temple in Shatin. Huge crowd, young and old, men and women, would be massing at the Temple door waiting for the stroke of midnight to race, with lighted joss sticks in their hand, to be the first to plant the stick incense at the altar. This way their prayer and wishes would reach heaven quicker.
Being first to plant your joss stick at the Altar at Wong Tai Sin Temple on New Year day ensures your prayer and wishes reach Heaven quicker, so they think.
In the Chinese calendar each year is dedicated to one of the 12 animals of the Zodiac, starting with the rat and finishing with the pig. Then the cycle repeats itself every twelve years.
The twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac
One legend had it that a long time ago the Jade Emperor invited all the animals of the Kingdom to a meeting and decreed that the years on the calendar would be named for each animal in the order they arrived to the meeting. To reach the meeting place the animals had to cross a river.
The cat and the rat were poor swimmers but quite intelligent. They asked to ride on the back of the Ox who being naïve and good hearted, agreed. Half way the rat pushed the cat in the water, and nearing the river bank he jumped ashore to claim first spot on the Zodiac. The Ox took second place.
The tiger arrived next, explaining to the Emperor, that he had to fight the strong current of the river, but with his strength managed to get on shore and he secured the third place.
Then the rabbit arrived, boasting how he jumped from stone to stone, almost slipped but managed to grab a floating log to get on shore. He got the fourth place.
The dragon came in fifth place. The Emperor was curious as to how a swift flying dragon could be that late. The dragon explained that he had to stop and make rain for the people and creatures of the Earth due to a forest fire. Further close to finishing line, he saw the rabbit struggling on the log and he gave him a puff of his breath to get him to shore.
With a galloping sound the horse arrived, with the snake clung to its hoof. Startled with the sight of the snake, the horse fell back, giving the snake an advantage and sixth place and him the seventh.
The goat, the monkey and the rooster arrived as a group. They had mustered their resources together and worked as a team helping each other on the way. They got the eighth, ninth and tenth place respectively.
The dog arrived in eleventh place. The Emperor was perplexed as to why the dog, being the best swimmer, was so late. The dog explained that he needed a good bath after a long spell, while in reality he could not resist playing a little longer in the cool water of the river.
Just as the Emperor was about to declare the competition “close”, an oink and squeal was heard. The pig had arrived. He explained that he got hungry on the way, stopped for a feast and fell asleep. The last spot was awarded to him.
The cat never made it, having drowned, due to the foul play of the rat. The cat swore to chase the rat forever to get even with him.