Inner Solace

Gōng xǐ fā cái

disoriented:

or Kong Huey Fat Choi, depending on your dialect… I’m not sure how to say it in Hokkien (which is ironic seeing as Hokkien is probably the dialect I’m most familiar with before Mandarin and Cantonese).

Either way: Happy Chinese New Year!

Oh hey, I forgot to post this yesterday.

Happy year of the Rabbit everyone!

How sad that I can’t place what the Hokkien greeting is from my own memory, I had to look it up.  So, Kiong Hee Huat Tsai!

Bit o’ background here (if you’re interested):

This year, the new year started on February 3rd.  The night before Chinese New Year is called Reunion Night (chú xī [除夕]) when the family (meant to be the whole family) gets together for dinner.

In the days before this, you’re meant to clean the buggery out of your house to make sure you sweep (or vacuum I suppose) all the bad mojo out of your house from the previous year.

On CNY itself you’re not supposed to wash your hair or clean because you could wash away or sweep away the good fortune you’re meant to get for the new year.  You’re also not meant to use knives because it could cut away at your good fortune.  So any food you’re meant to consume is to be prepared in the days before.

On this day and the days following you visit family.  Who visits whom will depend on gender, marital status, age, etc.  But generally the younger visit the elder.

During the visits, there’s also the exchange of hóng bāo [红包] (ang pau/red packets).  The tradition is that the married people give money in the red packets[1] to those younger than them and unmarried (even if they’re a day younger than you are).  The couples are sharing their good fortune with the others even if it’s just a token amount.

There is also a set of guidelines for what and how much to put in.  Coins are generally a no-no, but some people are okay with dollar coins. Just don’t put your shrapnel in (you stingy bastard).  Round numbers are best (multiples of ten), 80 if you want to be fancy, 88[2] if your dollar currency isn’t coins. But even if it is, the gesture is appreciated. Do not give beyond your means, that’s not lucky for anyone. If you have a lot of small children to hand out to, the ten is fine, but a smaller note is also okay (at least, I’d understand) if it’s going to make you broke. :P It’s just a token after all.

The greetings have been mentioned above and the one we’ve been exchanging translates roughly to a wish for prosperity/success in the new year.  Not quite just a happy new year.  If you want to be a smartarse to your friends, then wish them gōng xǐ fā cái, hóng bāo ná lái! [恭喜发财,红包拿来!] (Happy new year, gimme red packet!).

Some people object to wishing material wealth/success on others, but in this economic climate, every bit of help counts, yah? But, if you seriously object to wishing good fortune on people, then just say xīn nián kuài lè [新年快乐] which is literally, “Happy New Year”.

Happiness, safety and prosperity to all. :)

[1] If you need them and aren’t near a Chinatown/Chinese shop, try your bank.

[2] If you’re loaded, 888 (noone will object to the extra three dollar coins at all).