Two new years for some Waimarino folk

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 618, 28 December 1995, Page 11

Two new years for some Waimarino folk

The highlight of the festive season for the Chinese is the Chinese New Year, which will fall on 19 February next year. Xiao Feng Gan and Yue Ma of Ohakune explained that the Chinese have their own calendar, which is based on solar and seasonal patterns, so the new year falls on a different calendar day each year. Fifteen days after the new year there is a full moon, and this is a day of celebration for the Chinese too. On their New Year's Eve close family members gather to have a big dinner. Chinese dumplings and pork is a special favourite. Typically the rest of the dinner would include salads and a roast. Sweet dishes such as biscuits, cake and puddings are not eaten in Beijing where Xiao and Yue come from. But Xiao, who is a cook, says that he has cooked in

many different parts of China and as it is such a vast country, traditions vary from region to region. One sweet dish that the couple could recall was balls of chocolate or sugar, coated in flour. Nobody works on new year's eve and everyone participates in the celebrations. There is a tremendous atmosphere of excitement amongst everyone. Xiao says that everyone dresses up and clothes adorned with colourful flowers are common, There is a huge parade through the streets and people in the parade are dressed as dragons or in the costume and make-up of an ancient person who is part of Chinese culture. Many people play drums and people join in to sing traditional songs. The shops in the street are decorated with lanterns, often made into the shape of the animal of the

new year such as fish, goat, rat, duck. Others are made in the shape of a famous person. There is live theatre in the streets — professionals or keen amateurs. Y ue says the theatres in China are designed so the actors can be seen from all sides, so people gather in a square with the performers in the middle. At midnight fireworks go off and Xiao says it is very noisy for the next few hours. He says they were banned in Beijing last new years eve because of the number of fires. He and Yue think the banning is a great pity. The next day families go and visit each other, and traditionally older family members give younger members presents. Often children will be given a greeting card with money in it which they will

spend on fireworks. The new year period lasts for a week with most people taking a holiday. Since the cultural revolution 1 and 2 January have been holidays in China too . Xiao and Yue now celebrate Christmas as New Zealand is their home now. They also celebrate our new year, but say they will always celebrate the Chinese new year. Xiao always cooks traditional food on the night of the Chinese new year and says it is popular with people who come into the shop. He also says that he is very happy when people wish him happy new year, on the Chinese new year. He says he is amazed how many people in New Zealand know it is his new year, when New Zealand is so far from China.