Years May Come, Years May Go: Chinese New Year in Down Under

There are no public holidays for Chinese New Year over here in Down Under; therefore it is celebrated in low key. Unless you are fortunate like me to have some relatives living here, most will be celebrating the New Year Eve’s dinner among friends.

The festivity is also celebrated in the organised way mainly in the city or suburbs populated by the Vietnamese in Richmond, Springvale etc. It is organised by Chinese association or by other Asian ethnic group mainly the Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotian and Thai migrants.

When we first arrived in Melbourne, we went to the city to soak ourselves in the festivity atmosphere and to see how overseas Chinese celebrate the Chinese New Year. After 2 years, it was the same and it was so commercialised. It was just an opportunity for Chinese restaurants and businesses to milk the Orang Putih and visitors. Stalls were set up to sell foods, drinks and souvenirs at marked up prices. After the 2^nd year we stop going into the city mainly because it was the same setup, it was crowded, it was noisy with the firecrackers exploding in different streets with different troupe of dragon dances competing against each other. The drums with the continuous “thong, thong chang” and the clashing of cymbals drive me crazy. Also, the hot yucky summer does not help at all.

After a decade here, I enjoy ushering and celebrating Chinese New Year in a small scale without the noisy drums, clashing symbols and noisy exploding fire crackers. Yes, I sleep better, too.

The last few years, dinner was was held at my BIL or SIL’s place because they have larger home and kitchen. But this year the New Year’s Eve dinner was held at my home. Though my place is smaller and crowded, everyone was comfortable and feel at ease in my place. It was a compromise and most of all everyone is happy.