A Not So Chinese New Year

Making dumplings, passing out red packets, answering lantern riddles and setting off fireworks are probably some of the most common answers when one is asked the question of: “What do Chinese people do during Chinese New Years?” Actually, none of those answers would be wrong. However, for a less culturally influenced family residing in a modern city, Chinese New Years is different from the stereotypes.

Many people may know that Chinese New Years do not accord to the solar calendar, but the lunar one, so it usually comes at around the end of January, but not many know that the Chinese New Year is also not a single day, but a period of fifteen days of celebration. This year’s CNY arrived on the 28th of January on the solar calendar. The most celebrated event of this time is the New Years Eve, on the 27th. Like any other Chinese family, we celebrated our prosperity by preparing an abundance of unusual dishes, including Alaskan king crab with soy sauce dip, preserved eggs with dressings, boiled shrimp, and of course, the indispensable alcohol for the adults. They weren’t anything too special, but they sure built up the “eventful” atmosphere that wouldn’t’ve otherwise existed.

On the first day of lunar year, my parents and I took an eight-hour train ride to Guizhou, where my extended family members live. Though it might seem exciting and emotional to meet family members I haven’t seen in years, it was simply a routine of house visiting, reunions and enjoying tablefuls of somewhat uncommon foods. The reason why I haven’t seen some of those family members in a long time is mainly because we don't return to Guizhou on a yearly basis, and after all the years apart I didn’t know what to expect. Perhaps what I looked forward to the most throughout that trip was the fireworks which were an rare occurrence due to the bans on selling and setting off these products in my city. They are considered too noisy by some people, and partially also because there’s been numerous incidents involving deaths. The last time I set them off was at least 3 years ago, so it almost felt like a goal when my childhood memories were reenacted, and that’s what kept my hopes up. The highlight of my trip was when I was informed on the 29th that we would purchase fireworks after dinning with some family members from my father’s side that afternoon. I was so close to fulfilling my goal.

One problem about Chinese New Years, however, is that many restaurants are closed as it is national holiday where everyone goes home and visit their own families, which includes the restaurant workers. It wasn’t easy finding an open one; after an entire hour of car ride around downtown Guizhou when we finally saw a lit signboard, indicating it was still in service. Dinner wasn’t anything fancy; we were served standard dishes found in any typical mid-upscale Chinese restaurant. I didn’t pay as much attention to what was on the table as I did thinking what kind of firecrackers and fireworks would I get to mess with afterwards. Turns out the only thing anyone messed with that evening was my mind; the sidewalks of any street used to be littered with piles of fireworks and firecrackers and vendors selling them, but this year, there weren’t any. Laws were made in recent years on the restrictions of the distribution of fireworks, so they aren’t as accessible as before, my cousin explained. Disappointment filled my heart until we found people setting them off just in my neighborhood. Sure, not being able to play with any is a little upsetting, but what’s really the difference? After all, I did have a front-row seat to a fantastic show, for free.

The day ended when I returned home to pack for the departing trip the second morning. This is how I spend my Chinese New Years — quite ordinary, just a couple of days with slightly fancier food and a lot of traveling, which is quite unlike what most articles describe Chinese New Years to be. Perhaps this is due to my lack of Chinese influence growing up, or it’s just because my family doesn’t bother making it more interesting. Nevertheless, I wish to show the masses that the authentic Chinese New Years experience isn’t always an oozing fest of auspiciousness and good wishes like the ones shown in Chinese soda commercials.

#gerald #commentary #CNY #food