Lai Kwan Yee and Wong Man Ching
“Food, glorious food. I like food and they are particularly good in the New Year. I love eating Lo Pak Kuo (white radish cake). It is a traditional food from my home town in Chiu Chow, China.”
Ken Lai who was born in Hong Kong and later moved to Australia 32 years ago, and is now living in Melbourne. He talks to our reporters about the atmosphere in Australia during Chinese New Year.
“Not much different from our usual daily activities. Local Australian think that the tradition of Chinese New Year was similar to their Christmas Eve.Because we do not have public Chinese New Year holidays here in Australia. Majority of Australian does not celebrate Chinese New Year, ” Ken syas, adding that in Australia, most of local people do not care about Chinese New Year.
“I do not like the atmosphere of the Chinese New Year here, except in China town, where people celebrate the festival but to a lesser extent,” Ken adds.
On the Chinese New Year’s Eve, Ken had a good family dinner at home. And the kids get red packets, or lucky money from parents.
“I love the festival because there is a new hope for everyone in the family in New Year. Family re-union; married couples are to give red packets to the un-married ones; respect the elderly; and throw away the old stuffs and buy new ones at home. Lucky Spring Couplets or Messages, and red packets bring good luck to people too.”
Ken has some relatives in Indonesia. He visits there several times a year. Although he has never been to there during New Year holiday, he thinks it would not be as warm as in Hong Kong.
“There are more Chinese there so it would be more excited in Indonesia than in Australia. I think it would be more excited in China as you could do the firecrackers.”
Even less celebrations in the past because of racial discriminations against Chinese. He says that in recent years, racial relationship between Chinese and native Indonesian have improved.
“The Chinese celebrates New Year there with family gathering and dinner together, and exchange Red Packets too.Gladiouls is one of my favorite kinds of flower. It is tall, beautiful, with strength of character, and it lasts longer,” he adds.
However Ken prefers spending Chinese New Year holidays in Australia as there is quiet and peaceful. and another reason, He smiles that he can save more money by not sending many a Red Packets, or lucky money to the kids.
“To me, Hong Kong is not a nice place to spend Chinese New Year because I have to give away lots of Red Packets. But my boys enjoy it for sure.”
