Happy Lunar New Year!
Every year on January 1st, people all over the world gather to ring in the new year. It is a time for new beginnings, new goals, and new discoveries. But in some parts of the world, this day is not January 1st. In countries such as China, Taiwan, Korea and Vietnam among others, the new year is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, rather than the solar calendar. In this blog, we will take a look at some less explored aspects of Chinese New Year that are most enjoyable as a person who is blind or partially sighted!
Food
No cultural event is complete without food, and Chinese New Year is no exception! The celebration lasts for a whopping 15 days, and with the visits to family members and restaurant outings, there is no shortage of food. Food in Chinese New Year is rich with symbolism and meaning, and the symbolism is hidden in everything from the shape of a particular food, to its name, which may be a pun or other play on words relating to prosperity, riches, or luck. Dumplings are made in the shape of ancient Chinese gold or silver ingots, noodles represent long life, and inanga, a sweet rice cake, has a name that sounds like the words for growth or moving upward every year. Growing up as a blind child in a Chinese family, food was something I looked forward to every year, as there are so many things to taste that are only brought out or made during this holiday. Children are encouraged to eat niangao as a wish for them to grow taller, and business people eat it in hope of growing their business, or for getting a promotion. Though unable to see, being able to feel the shapes of some of these unique dishes and taste some very seasonal food is definitely one of the highlights of all the festivities. And of course, the more relatives and family friends there are, the more visits there are, which means even more food!
Dragon and Lion Dances
The Dragon and Lion dances are another big part of Chinese New Year. Both dances are believed to bring good luck and fortune, and these dances are performed every year with great skill by groups of performers. Unfortunately, part of this celebration is tough to enjoy. Audio description is sadly unavailable, and it’s not possible for totally blind viewers to enjoy the richly decorated lions and dragons, or the skill and acrobatics of the performers. But all is not lost! These dances are also accompanied by traditional drums and gongs, and the sound is not only very audible, but conjures up feelings of celebration and, for those of us who grew up with it, nostalgia. Loud noises are believed to scare away evil spirits during the holiday, and drums, gongs and fireworks come together to form an incredibly unique soundscape, which leads us to the final thing we will look at in this article.
Chinese New Year Music
Everyone in North America is aware of Christmas music. It’s played once a year (sometimes early depending on the people you talk to) and the sound of bells, strings, and sentimental lyrics along with a certain musical style evoke that magical feeling of Christmas in the air, cheesy though it might be. And for me, Chinese New Year music does the same thing. Though I’m unable to see and enjoy many of the visual aspects of the holiday, the music is something in which I can find joy. It’s a genre of music that is specifically written for and relates to Chinese New Year and is only played around this time during the year. What distinguishes this genre from other styles of Chinese music are the sounds of fireworks, drums, cymbals, and festive melodies. Additionally, many of the lyrics describe the festive atmosphere, what it’s like to gather with family and friends, and blessings and wishes for prosperity and good fortune throughout the year. It’s a lighter, much more fun side of the culture than the serious, hardworking personalities experienced day to day, and is perhaps my favourite part about the New Year celebrations.
Of course, there are things we cannot enjoy about Chinese New Year as blind or partially sighted individual. Colorful decorations and lanterns, along with hangings that are put up in homes written with Chinese characters of blessings and good wishes to name just two. But in many other respects, Chinese New Year, like other cultural events, has many things that are non-visual that may sometimes slip beneath our notice. And not only are there things to enjoy about Chinese New Year (as mentioned at the beginning of the blog), Lunar New Year is celebrated by many other countries around the world. I encourage anyone who reads this blog to talk to family or friends you know celebrate Lunar New Year, and find out how they celebrate and what seems like something you would like to try! Good wishes and fortune go with you this Lunar New Year, and may all our bodies and minds continue to be healthy and strong! Happy Chinese / Lunar New Year!
by Clement