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Lunar New Year Never Feels the Same Without Her
The passing of my Great-grandma changes what this most important Chinese festival means to me
“Dad, 10 days till New Year!” I shouted as I crossed out a date on my calendar.
As a child, I would start the countdown to the Lunar New Year by crossing out dates on my calendar from January 1st. I looked forward to meeting my cousins who returned to Hong Kong from other countries. It was also an opportunity to meet with relatives and friends scattered around Hong Kong.
It felt exciting. I was hopeful and happy for two months straight.
The Lunar New Year, which we call “春節” (chun jie) and “新年” (xin nian) in Chinese, is arguably the most important festival of the year. Based on the lunar calendar, it’s usually around January and February, depending on the year.
Chinese people return to childhood homes and celebrate with their loved ones, no matter where they are. It is the equivalent of Christmas for us. We rest, connect with family, and embrace the new year's challenges.
The Lunar New Year is a time for family reunions. My dad has a big extended family, as my paternal grandma has nine siblings, each with a couple of children and grandchildren. You can imagine how big the family is.
