Chinese New Year. It is a holiday associated with the color red, loud music accompanied by dancing dragons, and packets of money (many peoples’ favorite association, I’m sure).
As a foreigner in this country, I have always found Chinese New Year to be a bright and festive time of year. As the new quarter of the Western year rolls around, it can be seen all around Penang; the hasty preparation for a time of new beginnings and fresh starts in the Chinese calendar.
I have celebrated many a Chinese New Year, always involving massive amounts of food, always tantalizing to my tongue. My favorite, in particular, spring rolls; no matter what delicacies are on the table, spring rolls always seem to take star position on my plate. Maybe because I was once told by a Chinese friend that spring rolls can sometimes be known as “fortune rolls” and can bring prosperity and luck. Definitely a food I wouldn’t want to miss!
Calories aside, there are many other things that hint to the upcoming Chinese New Year, one of them being the sudden alteration in music genre. In stores and shopping outlets everywhere, the tunes swiftly change from hip hop or techno to festive songs in Mandarin, accompanied by large solos of drums. I cannot say they are always to my taste (considering I understand none of it) but they still play a huge role in switching everyone’s’ mood-gears into Chinese New Year time!
Getting on to the part that everyone loves about Chinese New Year: the “ang pao”! Little envelopes stuffed with money are given to children and young folks by married couples, with wishes of a prosperous and happy new year. I have always found this to be a charming tradition; no tedious shopping or deliberation required!
Yet it is not only the food or physical matter that makes Chinese New Year such a joyful time of year; it is a sheer feeling of excitement. The vibe of new commencements gets everyone in a good mood, and I’ve noticed that as Chinese New Year looms closer, people always tend to get friendlier! Mind you, perhaps they are simply looking for a good karma before the New Year, but it still suits me!
I never came into close contact with Chinese New Year festivities in the past, but with my transition into working life, I was hit in the face with the brunt of it. When I started my internship at Hekty Advertising & Penang Passion, CNY projects were in full swing, with fliers being designed and events being planned at full throttle. I was assigned to proofread CNY text, arrange CNY desk arrangements, and lick 500 stamps for 500 CNY posters.
I cannot say it was all work and no play though; I learnt about traditions that I had never even heard of before, such as the tossing of Yee Sang. I have to say, this new lesson was very refreshing to me; considering my mother had ALWAYS forbidden me from throwing my food in the air, I had found an opportunity to release my inner child!
This is what Chinese New Year should do for everyone; after all the hard work put into promoting and pushing it to sell, they should sit back, relax, and throw some food for prosperity!
Article by Naina Kamath for Penang Passion.
Pictures courtesy of Inmagine