Hello everyone and Happy Chinese New Year from Lucile Hames and Jade Hernandez!
You might not know this, but we are sisters! We grew up in a 1/2 Chinese and 1/2 Caucasian household. Our mom is 100% Chinese but born and raised in the USA. We loved growing up celebrating our Chinese traditions. We were able to wear traditional Chinese clothes on special occasions and celebrate Chinese New Year.
Our parents would sometimes come to our elementary school classes and teach the other children about our Asian/American traditions. We try to continue this into our adult lives by getting together as a family and making Chinese dishes and wearing traditional clothes every Chinese New Year.
Here are a few things we have learned over the years that we would love to share with all of you ABQ Moms!
Something Fun from Lucile
According to Chinese traditions, a red dress symbolizes happiness, good fortune, and success. Most often, Chinese women would have worn a red dress to their wedding, but in this photo, Chinese and American traditions have merged, as she wears this red dress to a high school dance.
Historical Knowledge from Jade
Gōngxǐ fācái (恭喜发财) is a way to say “Wish you wealth and prosperity.”
New Years is all about starting fresh. There are many ways to wish someone a happy new year. I personally like to wish others health and prosperity! The above translation is Mandarin Chinese. Lucile and I are 1/2 Chinese and 1/2 white. We love all parts of our heritage. This is why we celebrate Chinese or Lunar New Year as much as possible with our family.
What is the Lunar New Year? What does it symbolize? Why doesn’t it fall on the same New Year as everyone else’s? Great questions! I’m here to enlighten you!
Lunar New Year is the new year off of the Lunisolar Calendar. It is the arrival of spring. Lunar New Year is celebrated anywhere from 3 days (Korea) to 15 days (China)! This celebration is very important as some will prepare for weeks and months for the new year.
People will want to start the new year with a clean slate. This is a little different from Western culture as we like to start a new year with new habits and goals. The Lunar New Year tradition is to not have anything holding them back. The house will be completely clean, all debts will be paid, etc.
Something Fun from Lucile
Our mom volunteered in our classrooms when we were in grade school to teach us about the Lunar New Year. The most memorable part is when she’d have us color a Chinese Dragon Mask to wear! There are so many fun templates that are available online.
Historical Knowledge from Jade
DID YOU KNOW?
Chinese Exclusion Act 1882
On May 6, 1882, President Chester A. Arthur passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, prohibiting all immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years. The law excluded merchants, teachers, students, travelers, and diplomats.
DID YOU KNOW?
United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898)
This was a landmark case that allowed Chinese born in the US to be naturalized as US citizens at birth.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Pendleton Underground in Pendleton, OR
In the late 1800s, the Chinese built the essential railroads that connected the West Coast to the East Coast. But once that work was done, they also built a network of underground tunnels in eastern Oregon, creating a fascinating place to visit in the present day. Unbeknownst to many, Underground Pendleton was home to many secret and controversial businesses at the time including saloons, apothecaries, bordellos, a butcher shop, opium dens, and more. This hidden gem was discovered by city workers fairly recently in the 1980s. Back when Underground Pendleton was booming, the Chinese were harshly discriminated against by the white population, and for their own safety, they built an underground environment where they could move about freely and still conduct business.
Something Fun from Lucile
The Guzheng is a Chinese string instrument, a plucked zither. Fingerpicking tools are used to play this wooden string instrument!
Historical Knowledge from Jade
Year of the Snake: 蛇 shé (character for snake)
Those born in the year of the Snake are said to be sympathetic, wise, beautiful, crafty, ruthless, and mysterious. Snakes are also calm, resourceful, and able to analyze situations before taking action. Snakes do have a weakness of being prone to jealousy and suspicion.
Does this describe you?
Snakes are born in 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025. Remember this goes by the Lunisolar calendar. So if you are born in January, you might be considered the zodiac of the year before.
Something Fun from Lucile
The folding hand-held fan was made popular in China for practical use. However, each fan represented a different class and had a special purpose individually. More recently, people use the Chinese fan as a decorative piece.
Historical Knowledge from Jade
What is your Chinese Zodiac?
According to ancient myths, there were similar reasons why these 12 animals were chosen as the Chinese Zodiacs.
These 12 animals were selected through a race. There could only be 12 winners and the animals had to cross a rapid current river and reach the finish line on the shore to complete this race.
The Jade Emperor wanted to select these animals to be his guards. So he organized this exciting race! The animals made it across in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dogs, and Pig. (In other ancient stories, there is a cat as well.)
Happy New Year! May this year bring you good health and fortune!
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ABQ Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
