Year of the Ox — Chinese New Year in 2021
“If you shed tears when you miss the sun, you also miss the stars.” Chinese New Year might take place in foreign lands for nomads in the year of the ox, at a time when family and conviviality are most missed after prolonged periods of separation. Yet, the holidays bless us with a chance to reconnect with ourselves and friends in foreign land. The challenging circumstances can bring unprecedented moments of bliss. The cultural exchange with mainland CNY cuisine that varies across different provinces, the claustrophobic visit to the 觀音temple in New Year’s day for prayers, gatherings with Uni Taiwanese pals, and precious windows to reflect on past months in HK — these moments are to be cherished, as for all I know, I won’t get to relive New Years in identical circumstances or stages of life.
When we keep our eyes and hearts open with curiosity, we learn and travel whenever and wherever we go. The Chinese New Year ambience in Hong Kong was more subdued than that of Taiwan, I initially thought. Elements including people still working in 除夕 (Chinese New Year’s Eve), minimal decorations in open air (Seaside, parks, along the streets), and less home-made new year treats in traditional markets made that initial impression. It was until I sauntered along 上環 (Sheung wan’s) Des Voux Road West — renowned for its imports of dried seafood (abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw), marinated fish, and Chinese herbs for festive cuisine, with an array of New Year treats (nuts, candies, dried meat, dried seafood) ahead of the holidays that the CNY ambience kicked in. With the smell of sharp and salty seafood pervading in the air, these are beautiful festive traditions kept well since the 19th Century. Local mothers and grandmothers swarmed the streets, lingering along each counter making their comparisons and designing their annual feast I guess.
Other local elements such as the “Lai sees” (red packets) given in the office, flower decorations in households during the new year, and the temple visits for prosperity of the year (黃大仙、觀音廟 and more) were just a tip of the iceberg, I believe. The gatherings among relatives, the new year feasts boasted by the Cantonese restaurants (unfortunately subdued this year), or the annual fireworks in Victoria bay would be highlights that add to the convivial ambience.
For Chinese New Year eve, I visited L*** in Nan Cheung, with university friends from different Chinese provinces joining the feast of hotpot, dumplings, and glutinous cakes. 「最近怎麼樣～// 你們過年吃什麼？// 第一次在香港過年嗎？」asked C********. Interestingly, as members of MIG who met up each Sunday (yes.. such were the work ethics) in university, we worked extensively in market pitches, financial valuations, investment ideas, centered around academic and professional pursuits. The group was close-knitted, but conversations mostly took place over meeting rooms and hectic university schedules, and I didn’t get a good glimpse of the cultural heritage, provincial traditions, or creative pursuits that makes each individual full and three-dimensioned. I had faint impressions on regional specialties, provincial dialects, and traditional cuisines — yet the most vivid impressions of these mainland peers were their work ethics, self-discipline, and enthusiasm in academic/ professional endeavors.
As life stages shifted from university to work, leisurely hikes in New Territories (雞公嶺、八仙嶺recommended!), holiday gatherings over local cuisine, and conversations over drinks expanded my understanding of cultural heritages. As the ambience shifted from academics to work and further to personal pursuits, we get to know individuals through clearer lenses of perspectives, multitudes of cultural backgrounds, and environmental influences that shape us into who we are today.
When I entered HKUST and met mainland peers, I was aware of differences that set us apart. The communication styles (more direct, straight-forward), the academic fervor and discipline, the mass media/ cultural topics that I was unable to comprehend was manifested in initial encounters. Yet throughout HKUST years, the course collaborations, the MIG meeting gatherings, and venues outside the University made me eager to look at common grounds and similarities we share. Compassion and understanding of the wide range of upbringings and individual circumstances go a long way. The perspectives are brewed, mulled over, and reflected over multitudes of encounters through different venues — in the workplace, in a friends’ home, in the mountains, or over a few late-night drinks that we get a more rounded perspective.
For instance, watching 春晚 — a national TV broadcast of New year celebration hinted of how patriotism is subtly shaped through annual streaming. The congratulatory notes sent to military/ respected space crew/ farmers/ 成功脫貧 citizens captured through national television and displayed with dazzling anthems and beautiful spotlight… is hard not to strike a chord, especially if you live under similar circumstances. On the other hand, the diverse array of provincial cuisine and the dedication that my peers put into in preparation also gave me a glimpse of how tradition is passed on, respected, and blended over generations. It certainly wasn’t my first time making dumplings, as it was an annual ritual back in Taiwan, yet making dumpling dough and shaping them by hand, with flavors I’ve never tasted was a heartwarming connection to cuisine back home.
Friendships in student years keeps us steady in life, when we embark on further adventures after our academic stint. The communal memories rooted, the simpler interactions on campus, and the wider variety of flexibility in schedule blesses us with friendships under simple circumstances. As we transcend through life stages, into the professional field, moving from one city to another, starting a new relationship, or swimming through challenges; these strong support networks steady us in the background. Catching us when we fall, reminiscing past adventures, sharing the high and low moments, and envisioning the future…I’m extremely grateful of these beautiful moments. Put wisely — “Through time, old friends become family.” –blessing us with needed counsel through the high and low tides of life.
My Taiwanese pals and I gathered in Valentine’s day this year, right after the Chinese New Year holidays. Over this intimate setting, it was heartwarming to see friends introducing “new family”. After a few rounds of dumplings, card games softened the atmosphere, and so did red wine and rose. Observing the interactions between couples — **REDACTED** I could envision life companions walking the roads of life together. It was oddly assuring and heart-warming, to see our friends in love, living well, and reconnecting in this beautiful time of the year.
I guess one huge difference between friends met at work and those on campus are the conversation topics and mutual memories — with colleagues the conversations gravitate towards work while without the communal memories of school. With friends, how “it has been” includes the palette of work, relationships, family, creative pursuits — discussed in a more relaxed and sincere manner. The memories, the present challenges, the life changes, and the new encounters, have all planted seeds of inspiration and hope within us during this Chinese New Year away from home. As the saying goes — what makes life living is someone to love, something to hope for, and some work to do.
I tell myself to cherish these moments of conviviality, and cherish the generosity in time and sprit that friends have shared. “We should give as we would receive — cheerfully, quickly, without hesitation. As there is no benefit to grace that sticks to the fingers.” As for all I know — spending the New Year holidays with friends might be a once in a lifetime experience.
