Do you celebrate Chinese New Year? Actually, it’s not really just the Chinese who celebrate it. To many other Asian groups, the turn of the lunar calendar is a very important time for family gatherings, much like Thanksgiving is to the rest of us.
When do you celebrate it? Typically, the revelries last for ten days. And, much like how the Gothic Church has its own timetable for Christmas, Thailand has its own.
How do you celebrate it and with whom? I’m not talking about going to Chinatown to see the lion dancers shake their booties to bring good fortune from door to door. Do you know that while firecrackers are banned in NYC, just across the border in Connecticut, retailers sell them?
Feeling sorry for all the Chinese restaurant workers who couldn’t take the time off? Yes, they must feel like Bob Cratchit on Christmas Eve. Though you don’t particularly observe this holiday yourself, you still feel drawn to order dumplings, lo mien, and chicken and broccoli at this time. Tsing Tsao beer sounds especially appealing. Why, it’s just like Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, or Halloween’s Day—even if your not Mexican, Irish, or dead! Any excuse for debauchery, you’re down with it!
I admit that this year, I’m feeling very fortunate. I’ve received more invitations for a Chinese New Year party—or, for some, a Chinese New Year theme party—than in previous years. Looking at the roster of guests invited, I’m not surprised that many are not even Chinese—or Asian, for that matter. In fact, it could have been a Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, or Halloween’s Day party, I would think. Salud! Slainte! Long live!
So how do I partake of this ten-day window of opportunity for uncommon revelry? I’m playing pinochle, one day with family and the next with friends. I hope to shoot the moon at both occasions. They say round objects are particularly auspicious at this time, so I’ll try doing a Mexican spin on meatballs, in tomatillo sauce with rice and beans on the side. Or maybe, I'll order Chinese take-out (again). But this time, I promise to be more gracious tipping my delivery boy. To him and to my family and friends, I’ll then raise my Smithwick’s and cry: Gong Xi Fa Cai!
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