Chinese New Year can be a bittersweet time for international students in Fredericton.
“It feels lonely to celebrate here,” said Ran Bi, a second-year Chinese student at St. Thomas University, “because the people you love the most – parents – are not here, but surrounded by friends makes me feel better.”
Bright colors, firework noises, red clothes and packed restaurants fill Chinese towns during the New Year celebration. In Fredericton, the Chinese community has prepared dinners, gatherings and performances to celebrate New Year’s Eve on Jan. 31.
“New Year’s Eve is the most important festival in China and for Chinese people,” said Martin XuanYu, vice president of the Chinese association at UNB.
“In Fredericton I don’t feel so lonely because here are many Chinese people around, but no affection between family members.”
Getting rid of bad fortune and beginning a new year represents an important step for Chinese people.
“If a new year has come, everything is going to be reborn at a new start point. Like many flowers will reopen in the next spring, we will forget the sadness and stress.”
XuanYu recalls making animal and flower paper shapes with his family and putting them on the window to attract happiness, good fortune, wealth and longevity.
Parents give their children money in red pockets as a gift for the upcoming year.
Wild beast Nien (“year”) brings fire lights, music and the New Year festivities to the Chinese people.
Children use red clothes, families decorate their homes with red ornaments and light fireworks to scare the monster.
“People don’t want the monster to eat their pets or take their children away,” said XuanYu, “that’s why we wear red as a tradition.”
XuanYu will perform a traditional Chinese dance to music while wearing dragon and Chinese lion costumes.
The performance will take place in the Centre Communautaire Sainte-Anne in Fredericton on Feb. 2. It’s open to all.
“We believe that day is the first day of the spring,” said Ran Bi, “and it means to get rid of bad luck and expect good fortune.”
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a 15-day celebration. It’s the most important holiday for Chinese people. Each day has different traditions, food and festivities.
The Chinese calendar sets the dates based on the weather, lunar phases and ancestors’ tradition. Different to the Western calendar, Chinese New Year dates vary from year to year. The 12 zodiacal animals mark different characteristics and fortunes for each year.
New Year’s Eve dinner is the most important food of the year. Each family gathers to eat traditional Chinese food such as chicken, duck, and Eight Treasures rice. Traditionally, families ate long noodles to symbolize long living. Dumplings were shared as a way to manifest unity and warmth among family members.
Ran Bi has celebrated New Year’s Eve with the Chinese community in Fredericton and Vancouver. Families gather to watch special Chinese TV shows with traditional music and eat dumplings together.
“Every New Year I spend in my home is my favourite,” she said, “but it’s been five years since the last time I was there. Having the opportunity to meet the Chinese community here and help each other has been important for each one of us.”
