Cyrus Chan
If there is anything that one should know about the Lunar New Year, it would be that the festival itself always starts off with a new moon. No one ever really notices that the moon has shied away from the hustle and bustle of humanity when the fireworks are all we need to light up the night sky. This year, however, with the coronavirus raging across Hong Kong, not a single firework was launched and the sky remained a dark veil.
That was, of course, far from the end of the story. It was but the beginning of the Lunar New Year and there were still days before the festival would officially come to a close. We know for a fact that the moon will eventually show its face once more but before that happens, let us focus on those who are around us and enjoy what Lunar New Year has to offer.
Cyrus Chan is an undergraduate at the Chinese University of Hong Kong who majors in English. Born and raised in Hong Kong, he is always enthusiastic about sharing his own experience of living in this vibrant city. He is also very interested in learning about how cultures of foreign countries might differ from his. One of his greatest aspirations is to travel the world and write a short story for every place that he visits.
A good bloom makes a good year, which is why visiting the Flower Market is at the top of everyone’s agenda during Lunar New Year. With bunches of oriental lilies and orchids in their hands, people maneuver through the bustling streets, silently hoping what they have just picked up from the florist would not get crushed by the oncoming crowd. [12 Feb, Yuen Po Street]
With their enormous size, the flowering peach trees are truly a sight to behold. During Lunar New Year, almost all the malls in Hong Kong would set up an area where the public can take photos with the gargantuan trees. While most of the locals here are absolutely infatuated with these tiny blossoms, I think the fascination that people have towards this special flower has little to do with its beauty. Peach blossoms symbolize love and harmony, which, I would assume, are highly sought after in these turbulent times. Include a few of these pink petals in your selfie and you might just get what you are seeking all along. [Harbour City, 17 Feb]
Receiving and giving out red packets, which are also known as Lai See in Hong Kong, are certainly two of the most intriguing practices of Lunar New Year. I have always thought of red packets as blessings ever since I was little, which has led me to develop a weird habit of giving Lai See to my parents. I had, perhaps, gotten this idea from one of my unmarried aunts who still gives red packets to my cousin and me every year. She had obviously picked this habit up from someone else and until this day, I still wonder who it is. [Harbour City, 17 Feb]
Bags of golden Jyun Bou glisten under the light, waiting to bring good fortune to those who bring them home. For most people, having one bag of these ornaments would be more than enough. As much as Hong Kong people would like to receive blessings from the god of wealth, it is never a good idea to overdo your decorations. [Sai Yee Street, 12 Feb]
As the night falls, the red light emanating from the lanterns starts to come through. Given the current state of the economy, I had not expected companies to spend a lot on decorations this year. As a matter of fact, the butterflies and the lanterns they are using are most likely left over from some of their previous festive displays. It matters not, though, since at the end of the day, Lunar New Year is not about putting up fancy accessories. Instead, it is the blessings that people exchange that make Lunar New Year what it really is. [Lee Tung Street, 15 Feb]
After transferring the shrimp onto a plate, my grandma turns to the sink and proceeds to wash the wok that she was just working with. Having stir-fried shrimp with chives and ginger for Hoi Nin Fan, which is the meal that serves to bring us good fortune for the coming year, has almost become a family tradition of mine. My grandmother believes that having shrimp would invite happiness into our lives because the pronunciation of the word ‘shrimp’ in Cantonese, haa, sounds exactly like a joyous laugh. While I cannot foresee what 2021 has in store for me, I am certain that, with my family always by my side, I will have no problem feeling uplifted. [Yuen Long, 13 Feb]
I have never been a big fan of lion dancing, mostly because of how loud the drums are. As it happens, there are no drums this year. The management office has decided that having a lion dance performance would be too much of a public health risk. When I look at the lions, propped up by bamboo sticks and metal bars, I do feel like something is amiss, but seeing how the people of Hong Kong have cared for one another in the past year, I know that the drums will sound again next Lunar New Year. [Po Lam, 18 Feb]
From paper windmills to incense sticks, Wong Tai Sin Temple has it all. Not only is the windmill a fun little toy, it is also believed that the spinning motion of it symbolizes change, a turn for the better. In a sense, Lunar New Year gives us the chance to start anew, just like how the moon takes on a new cycle. If we all start working on something that we truly care about, we might soon see the light at the end of the tunnel. [Wong Tai Sin Temple, 15 Feb]