To find out how the Chinese celebrate this festival despite being away from home I spoke to a friend of mine who comes from Hong Kong; she's called Nora and is studying psychology at the University of York. | "Grandpa is the oldest in his family. That puts him in the position to be the visited and not the visiting!" | |
"I would visit my grandparents with my family. Extended family members – Uncles and Aunts from both sides - will also gather. We all visit my grandparents because my grandpa is the oldest in his family. That puts him in the position to be the visited and not the visiting!" Could you describe some of the things that are traditional in Chinese new year celebrations. "The dragon dance happens in the streets, with bands of Chinese percussion playing Chinese rhythms. Lots of cymbal clash in synchrony with the acrobatic choreography of the dance. It is almost like aural fireworks! The colour themes are predominantly red, gold, yellow, and black. "The costumes worn are the most refined in Chinese culture (the equivalent of tuxedos in the Western society, for example). These costumes are called 'cheung sam' - literally, 'long clothing'. They are fitted on women, with silk fabric and embroidered with gold coloured thread. "In terms of the food, there is a circular tray of sweets which is passed around. It is compartmentalised and has Chinese fudges, biscuits and nuts in each of their own sections." What have you been doing to celebrate Chinese new year while in York? "My parents came across to visit me. My older brother came too, and it was nice to hang out with the family again. It was lovely just driving around as us four again, visiting Yorkshire places such as Whitby and Thirsk. We just enjoyed fish 'n' chips at Whitby and had an amazing seafood meal in a restaurant." Is there anything you miss being in York, that you would usually do back in Hong Kong? "The food in Hong Kong is so refined. They have all sorts of cultural cuisines there, from Chinese to Japanese, to Indian, to Italian, to American, to Malaysian, to African... And all to excellent standards and faithful to the culture being mimicked. "The harbour can also be magical. It is beautifully lit by the buildings next to the harbour and while these appear technologically advanced and ahead in time, the water of the harbour itself counterbalances this effect by its soothing nature. It is a therapeutic place to be and I miss it very much." | 
