How Do You Ring in the Lunar New Year?

From family gatherings to 10-dish feasts and little red envelope traditions – here’s how some of us celebrate

On the 5th February, people around the world will be celebrating the beginning of the Lunar New Year. For some it means big family get-togethers and to others it means food and lots of it. We asked around the office and here’s what they’ll be looking forward to this year.

Jacqui Seeto – Graphic Designer

“I’m excited for all the food! In my family, we have dinner – eight dishes for prosperity, nine for long life, but a 10-dish meal is perfect. I also look forward to receiving red packets (married couples give red packets to single relatives for good luck and fortune).”

Anna Lee – Chief Operating Officer

“Lunar New Year is a big deal – it’s all about family and friends getting together and everything is auspicious – we wish everyone good luck, health, success, prosperity, love, fertility etc. My parents love to cook delicious Chinese feasts for everyone and our house is decorated with flashy gold and red adornments. We all go to the temple to give thanks to the ancestors and various spirits and gods for looking over us and make blessings and wishes for the year ahead.”

Connie Leung – Graphic Designer

“When I was a kid, I would receive new pyjamas every CNY. If I could put in a request to the Moon Mother this year, I'd ask for a set of mah-jong (the game looked bad ass in Crazy Rich Asians). But traditionally, married people give out red packets of money to young’uns and single relatives, so I’ll probably receive some of those, although I’m getting to an age where I feel a little embarrassed to be accepting them. As I approach my late 20s, I get asked more and more often when I'll be handing out red packets. This is when I conveniently change the subject...”

Yvonne Lwee – Social Media Manager

“I look forward to seeing my family the most. When I was younger, we would all dress up real fancy and convene at my great-grandmother’s café to celebrate with heaps of food, play mah-jong for hours and finish with fireworks. This year I’ll be bringing yummy snacks like pineapple tarts, dried sweetmeat and mandarins to the table.”

Michael Chan – Software Engineer

“I love the whole celebration – lion dances, fireworks, seeing my family… and red envelopes don’t go unappreciated!”

Vivien Fu – CRM Manager

“All my extended family in Sydney get together at our favourite Chinese restaurant and have 10 lucky dishes. The first dish always starts with Loi Hei, a noodle dish that everyone stands around and mixes together with our chopsticks. The dragon dance happens at some point during dinner and it’s always fun seeing how the kids in my family react to it when it comes around.”

Jenelle Tan – Senior Experience Designer

“I follow all of the above! Plus, I love wearing new red clothes for luck, or other bright colours during this time.”

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