How I Celebrate The New Year
It’s almost Chinese New Year (also known as Lunar New Year)! On the 12th of February, we will be celebrating the year of the Ox.
To me, this is always a great time catching up with family and friends. But with this current lockdown throughout the UK, there are things we will be unable to do that are usually part of our tradition. For example, dropping in at friends and relatives houses to bring them red envelopes (containing money – this symbolises good luck for the new year ahead), and greeting one another with ‘Happy New Year’. Social distancing rules mean this is a no-no, so I will probably be resorting to Zoom calls instead.
So how will I be preparing? One important tradition is to do a big house cleaning and discard things we don’t need anymore and make room for better things to come. It’s important to avoid doing this during the new year as such actions will ‘sweep away the good luck’, so this must be done at least a few days before.
As for the big feast, this happens on Lunar New Year’s Eve, and most of the time will be dedicated to cooking in the kitchen. Fish, chicken, spring rolls are usually part of the menu.
And when the clock hits midnight, we shall welcome the new year and say goodbye to the old one!
