Happy Chinese New Year!
I'm in touch with my inner crazy, rich Asian. Are you?
There’s nothing subtle about Chinese New Year: It’s all about money. And the typical greeting, “Gong Xi Fa Cai,” means, “Mazel tov (or congrats)! Make a ton of money!”
The whole holiday revolves around cold, hard cash, which is what's stuffed into those ubiquitous red envelopes that are pressed into the hands of children, distant relations, business associates or anyone from whom you’re trying to curry favor or feel beholden to. I know folks in Asia who are so put off by the massive outlay of money during New Years that they avoid social events as much as possible during the prolonged holiday (15 days!).
But I am always amused by how seriously some non-Asians take Chinese New Year, as if it required deep reflection to absorb its true essence. They will study the symbolisms, look for meaning in lunar astrology, make dumplings from scratch, cloak themselves in festive garments, and pass out red envelopes to every Asian child in the neighborhood to show their cultural fluency. (They usually pack the red envelope with one or two chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil – which, I can tell you, won’t cut it with a real Chinese kid.)
Ultimately, Chinese New Year is a money grab – albeit a festive one. It's pure, unabashed celebration of materialism. And you know what? We love that.
Want to learn more about the real meaning of Chinese New Years? Check this out:
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Vivia