Celebrating another CNY in pandemic times
The year of the Water Tiger happens every 60 years. In the Chinese zodiac, the tiger is associated with strength, confidence and courage. Some feng shui and astrology experts say that 2022 is going to be an auspicious year because the Tiger is a lucky sign.
AT midnight tonight, our Chinese and Tsinoy friends will be celebrating the New Year, the year of the Water Tiger. It’s the season for lion and dragon dances, handing out hong bao or lucky money, and for sharing and eating tikoy, which symbolizes growth and blessings.
Many families have already cleaned out their homes some days ago to remove dirt, bad energies, and negativity from one’s space. It is also the perfect way to clear the space so blessings can come smoothly into one’s life.
Like the Filipinos’ Christmas celebration, the Chinese also celebrate a long festival of about two weeks. China’s public holiday lasts a week, but the celebrations may extend beyond it. For the Chinese, it’s the perfect time to rest and relax and to visit family members.
The year of the Water Tiger happens every 60 years. In the Chinese zodiac, the tiger is associated with strength, confidence and courage. Some feng shui and astrology experts say that 2022 is going to be an auspicious year because the Tiger is a lucky sign.
The festival is traditionally celebrated to honor deities and ancestors. It is also an occasion for feasting. The reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve among family members is a special ritual wherein lucky dishes are shared, like long-life noodles, spring rolls, rice dumplings, walnut cookies, etc.
Today, New Year’s Eve, some people spend the day decorating their homes with red lanterns and paintings to keep evil away and to usher in blessings for the year. On New Year’s Day itself, it is customary to put on new clothes and send greetings to family and friends.
Giving out red envelopes has been a long tradition but due to the pandemic, some of us are careful about going to banks to withdraw cash or meeting our friends and relatives physically. Digital hong baos are popular in some Asian countries. In the Philippines, I know coins.ph offers the same service so you can send ang pao to your friends and family via the app.
In Manila where Chinatown in Binondo is located, Mayor Isko Moreno, for two years in a row now, has canceled all public activities that celebrate the Chinese New Year because of the pandemic. He encouraged families to celebrate in their homes, but public events like dragon dances and fireworks are canceled. Chinatown remains open to visitors and the public in general.
As the pandemic is not yet over, many anticipate that 2022 will be another difficult year. Let’s hope that the tiger brings strength and courage to people so we can overcome the challenges that lie ahead. To my Chinese and Tsinoy readers, Gong Xi Fa Cai! Have a happy and safe celebration!