I celebrate Lunar New Year on 22.1.2023. It was a Sunday, I still needed to work as an organist. However, the work was enjoyable and relaxing. I have to stay with my friends because the church that I played organ was in their village. On Sunday, it is very difficult to travel with public transport, and church service is usually in the morning.
So I am very thankful for the Friendship Bed and Breakfast that I had. My friends have prepared an abundant German breakfast. The perfect soft boiled egg, my favourite home-made Hefezopf (braided yeast bun) and all the tasty stuff one can imagine for breakfast. Last but not least, the moment and the conversation we shared with each other.
After breakfast, I went to church and played the organ in a very good mood. The reason of my good mood was, I knew after work, I would be celebrating Lunar New Year with 2 very important friends. Friends who can be happy with me when I have a good day, and who helped me when I was in a pit. Last year was not very easy for all of us, and I am truly thankful that we have each other.
It is a tradition to bring gifts when we are visiting friends during Lunar New Year. It’s very challenging to get traditional Asian cookies in Germany, but traditional German cookies are very good too! The pig on the mug, I would interpret it as a lucky mascot.
Another Lunar New Year tradition is lucky money. Lucky money is money wrapped in a festive beautiful envelope, usually in red and gold (known as 紅包, hóngbāo🧧), to give it to friends and family. It symbolizes good wishes and luck for the new year. 🧧
I don’t have any idea where to get the Lucky Money Envelopes in where I live, so I’ve made DIY version of them. I hope they can still deliver my good wishes.
My friend prepared one of many traditional dishes – Pen Cai（盆菜）. Traditionally, Pen Cai has eight ingredients, because number 8 symbolizes prosperity. This dish must be served in a big round pot, because the Chinese word “round” (圆-yuan) means reunion. On Lunar New Year, family members are gathering together, the dish symbolizes the harmony in the family.
There are so many traditional dishes for Lunar New Year, it depends on which area people are coming from. However, no matter where one celebrates it, FISH is a common dish to put on the reunion table. The pronunciation of FISH in Chinese is “yu” (鱼), the same pronunciation as the word SURPLUS “yu” (余).
Traditionally, FISH is carrying the good wishes to have surplus in wealth. Since the most important things in life cannot be bought, for example: love, relationship, nature, the clean air we are breathing and etc. , yesterday I was thinking, what would be an good option instead of wealth?
I wish everyone always has an extra portion of love to give, to bless and to benefit other with surplus kindness. Happy New Year!
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