Happy Lunar New Year!

We have, in our church, a very large contingent of Asian members. I love the customs, traditions, festivals, costumes, languages and foods that our friends bring to our colorful international family.

One of the biggest festivals that we celebrate together is the Lunar New Year. On Saturday, February 4, 2006, we’ll be eating and partying at our Coquitlam church. I’m looking forward to a good celebration.

The Lunar New Year (more international than the Chinese New Year) has a long history. It first began as a celebratory break after the harvest and before the planting of new crops.

Like our Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Years, the Lunar New Year is rich with tradition, folk lores and rituals. Preparations often begin a month before the actual holiday (like our Christmas). People buy presents, decorations, food and clothing. They also do a huge clean-up (like our spring cleaning which dates back to the Jewish Feast of unleaven bread)—they sweep away all traces of evil or bad luck from the top to the bottom of their homes.

On the Evening of the Lunar New Year, there is often a feast of seafood and dumplings. Prawns symbolize happiness and liveliness; dried oysters (hoxi) for all things good; fish dishes (Yu) for good luck and prosperity; and Fai Chai (Angel hair—an edible hairlike seaweed) for prosperity. The dumplings (Jiaozi) signify a long lasting blessing on the family.

The color red is meant to ward off evil—black and white are inappropriate as they signify mourning. At midnight a colorful fireworks display lights up the sky.

The kids love Lunar New Year because that’s when the ancient custom Hong Bao (which means-red packet) takes place. Married couples give children and unmarried adults money in red envelopes. Often families visit from house to house and bring blessings to family and friends.

If you're in the neighbourhood, why not help us celebrate the Lunar New Year?

Barry