Lunar New Year

Rejoicing in Red and Riches

How different cultures celebrate Lunar New Year

By Thinh Huynh

Chinese New Year marks the end of the lunar calendar. Many people, mainly stemming from Asian ethnicities, celebrate this time of year with a large festival. Relatives often travel from all over the world to meet up and enjoy time with their families. During the visit, families would have one large dinner with each other before going home and resting. During the dinner, red envelopes would be given out as well. Dim sum, tea, and tangerines are all often eaten during this time of year.

7:00 AM

Senior Jessica Huang wakes up, in preparation for Chinese New Year.

“My parents wake me up early in the morning to give me a red envelope.” Huang said. “I respond back to them in Chinese to show my thanks and wish them a happy new year (Xīnnián kuàilè gōngxǐ fācái) then head back to sleep.”

12:00 PM

Huang continues to nap after receiving her first blessing from her parents. Then, Huang goes out to enjoy dinner with her family.

“My family members wear their read outfits while I wear my red Qípáo and we head to Fusion Delight to have dim sum.” Huang said. “At the restaurant, there is a lion dancer, who you give red envelopes to, and return for greater wealth in the upcoming year. They’re supposed to rip a head of lettuce as it represents good fortune and prosperity.”

6:00 PM

Huang enjoys the traditional dim sum at Fusion Delight in the Greenhouse Marketplace. She then returns home and pays respect to her ancestors and enjoys dinner with her immediate family.

“Before dinner time, we are supposed to pray to our ancestors in front of the incenses which are placed at the entrances to the house. To do this, we hold the joss paper and bow three times. After everyone has done this, we go to the backyard to burn the paper and have dinner.” Huang said. “We have a large feast and my favorite dishes are tofu skin soup and rice noodles. Typically, I leave the dining table once I am done eating but for this day, I stay until everyone has finished.”

What is something that you look forward to during Chinese New Year? “ I look forward to seeing family I haven’t seen in a while and getting the envelopes. ”

- Junior Tiffany Fang

Vietnamese Lunar New Year (or Tết) is also a time when families gather to enjoy time together. Bánh tét (glutinous rice cake with mung beans and pork) and thịt kho (braised pork and eggs) are a few of the most common traditional food around this time. Families would then go visit Buddhist temples and pagodas to send prayers. Some might go out to enjoy festivals held within Vietnamese communities, for most people in the East Bay, that would be at Grand Century Mall. Most festivals have lion dancing, a small fairground, some gambling tables to play the infamous bầu cua, firecrackers, dragon dancing, and occasionally fireworks.

What does it mean to be a tiger?

Tigers are independent and strong-willed. Along with being optimistic and energetic, people born in the year of the tiger typically score high on extraversion. They will often satisfy ambition before finding any rest.

- chinesenewyear.net

Night Before

For senior Chelsi Nguyen, her Lunar New Year starts the day before.

“Usually before Lunar New Year, you have to make sure your house is clean for good luck and to get out the bad spirits.” Nguyen said.

8:00 AM

After spending the night preparing for the upcoming holiday, she wakes up ready to spend the holiday with her family. She starts performing rituals for her ancestors.

“Wake up. Get Dressed. Help my mom prepare all the food.” Nguyen said. “We have a dinner set up for our ancestors and incense burning for them. Then you pray to them before you are able to eat the food off the table.”

12:00 PM

Nguyen spends her morning continuing to set up for her family’s dinner and paying respect to her ancestors. Nguyen prepares to leave for Buddhist temples and pagodas.

“We got to chùa or the Buddhist temple and there we pray and eat.” Nguyen said.

illustrations by Thinh Huynh

3:00 PM

Nguyen spends the time at Buddhist temples praying for New Year’s blessings for her and her family. Then, Nguyen goes to the local Vietnamese community in San Jose to enjoy the loud and festive traditions.

“Some people would go to San Jose or Grand Century [Mall]. They usually light firecrackers and do lion dance.” Nguyen said.

7:00 PM

Nguyen enjoys time at the Mall where there are many Vietnamese families, from all over the Bay Area, come to celebrate. Then, Nguyen goes home to enjoy dinner with her family with one large feast.

“Relatives come over or you go over to your relatives to eat dinner and receive lucky red envelopes.” Nguyen said. “We also play gambling games called bầu cua, light firecrackers, and gossip.”