Lunar New Year celebrations have special significance for St George’s Chinese seniors community.
Celebrations are based on traditions going back centuries but there are subtle differences in way Lunar New Year is celebrated in Australia.
When the members of the Chinese Australian Services Society’s Hua Kang Senior Group gather to celebrate Lunar New Year at the Hurstville Community Centre this year they will be combining these old and new traditions.
Their lunch will be based on a traditional Lunar New Year banquest which includes sweet dumplings, white carrot pudding and taro pudding, said Chinese seniors group organiser Teresa Chu.
“Eight is the lucky number for the Chinese so we usually have eight courses,” Teresa said. “For the banquet we usually have chicken, fish, vegetables and roast pork.
“The Chinese regard the skin of the roast pork will bring you good health because is red. The colour red is regarded as good.”
Winnie Fung said the colour red is particularly important for the elderly.
“Red is considered to be healthy and prosperous, especially for the elderly,” she said.
Teresa said another Lunar New Year Tradition is to put a lettuce in the fridge.
“But the lettuce must have roots,” she said. “If you put it in the fridge before Chinese New Year it will bring you well-being. At this time of year you will see many Chinese groceries selling lettuce with roots.
“The day before Lunar New Year people will buy flowers, preferably coloured red but never white. Usually these are gladioli.
“If they open on New Year’s Day they will bring wealth.”
The most important aspect of the day is the gathering of family.
But that aspect of celebrating Lunar New Year is also different in Australia.
Daphne Chu has been coming the Chinese seniors group for 10 years and used to celebrate Lunar New Year with her daughters and father-in-law.
“In Hong Kong we have four public holidays,” Daphne said. “Because my daughters are working here they don’t get the day off, so I will come to the seniors group,” Daphne said.
One Lunar New Year tradition that hasn’t changed is the giving of red envelopes or packets, called hongbao in Mandarin and lai see in Cantonese.
“The red packet will give health, good fortune and good blessings,” Teresa said.
“In Hong Kong married people will give a red packet to all unmarried children, whether they are part of your family or not,” she said.
“In Australian we only give red packets to our family members. But here at the seniors group everyone will get one.”
