This weekend marks the beginning of festivities for this year’s Lunar New Year. For many millions of Asians and diaspora communities across the world this marks the conclusion of the Zodiac Year of the Tiger. Also, it ushers into an era known as the Year of the Rabbit or Cat (if you are within Vietnam). The commercial activity may slow down or halted for a couple of days while people get together with their family members. A lot of Chinese workers who are migrant see the holiday as their final opportunity to go back to their country of origin to spend the rest of the year. Its origins are rooted in the past and encourage the bond of family.
Daniel Lee Lih Wei is an Asian-Chinese citizen who is 55, is in a managerial position at Sunway University’s research. He says he would like his kids to be able to appreciate and understand the diverse and rich culture and history we share and the ways they can incorporate the same values into their daily lives. The goal is to give children the same level of awareness as I did when it comes to food, family and contemplation and looking ahead.
Lee Lih Wei is a reminder of his youth, insists that his kids, who are aged between four and one, should be pursuing the same goal. They would like to play with fireworks, eat cookies as well as watch traditional Lion dances. The elaborate, colorful shows are popular across all of the nation during the time prior to the new year. It is believed that they to bring good luck and wealth. Lee Lih Wei decided to stay at home for a week which allowed the family and him to enjoy their celebrations fully. Everyone in the family will wear coordinating hues of red as they come together with their relatives to celebrate the two-day celebration.
Wen Xu couldn’t return home to her Anhui home last year because of Covid limitations. She is allowed to travel from Hong Kong where she moved in the last few months to work as a journalist. It was unimaginable in the past two months. But, Xu can now travel to celebrate the Lunar New Year with the thousands of other people who left China. Lee Lih Wei says that his family members have been invited to lunch by Lee Lih Wei as well as dinner with his family.
Xu could not contain her excitement when she got the opportunity to go to her home. She shared that her aunt as well as her uncle and cousin will visit from towns nearby for New Year’s Eve celebrations. They’ll be enjoying the traditional meal that is served to families, consisting of steaming meat, rice flour, as well as bone broth. The plan was for an entire week of relaxation which included reading, as well as catching with her Canadian cousin. Xu was also planning to record her mom as she cooked traditional Chinese dishes, such as the ejiao. Xu as well as her cousin grew together, so they had a great time at the reunion.
The previous Year of the Tiger saw her rise in the professional world, but she was not able to make it work in her relationships. In celebration of this Lunar New Year, Xu was able to get together with her cousin and enjoy the traditional Chinese meal. They then raced upstairs to look over the cash in the red envelopes the elderly relatives of theirs had gifted as presents. The two still receive red packet cash, even though they have both gotten older. Xu states that she has an emotion of sorrow this year due to the fact that her father is suffering from Covid- must be isolated and prevented of the opportunity to be with the two at dinner. The year ahead is a dream for her. to be closer.
Summary
The time was filled with memories as well as discussions on the future for Xu and her family. This pandemic didn’t stop the family from having their annual reunion with their family. The group was able to look back on their past and look ahead to what was yet to be. Traditional dishes made of steamed meat that is served with rice flour bone broth , and bone broth are a wonderful way to remember the previous. The plans of Xu to record her mother’s life helped preserve an important part of their culture to future generations. At the end of the day, it was a period when happiness was derived from the reunion to loved ones regardless of external influences.
