CHINESE NEW YEAR

is the most significant holiday in China, and in places across the world with significant Chinese populations. Although festivities and customs vary from one region of the country to another, one constant is the tradition of each family thoroughly cleaning their house to sweep out any lingering bad vibes from the old year, and make way for coming good fortune.

Another is family feasting; families gather on the evening before Chinese New Year for their annual reunion dinner. Highly anticipated, this meal is meticulously planned. Houses are decorated with plenty of red (lanterns, table runners, flowers), as red is thought to scare off Nian, the Beast of Bad Fortune. Dishes associated with the meal heave with symbolism; for example, dumplings (shaped like ingots, they represent wealth), noodles (for longevity) and chicken (for joy, and served complete with head and feet). A whole fish is essential, as fish is said to attract abundance. It’s customary to not eat all the fish because leftovers intensify the idea of prosperity. Fruits associated with wealth are also favoured – tangerines, oranges and pomelos, for example. Then there is a dried moss called f cái in Mandarin and fat choy in Cantonese, giving rise, respectively, to the New Year’s greetings of ‘ g ng xi f cái’ and ‘ g ng hei fat choy’. Which means ‘congratulations and be prosperous’.