Dear Addie,
This week we celebrated. Not for a birthday or for any monumental developmental milestone, but for the Chinese culture and their new year. A celebration slowly taking on tradition in our own family of making homemade fried rice and eating a red dessert of some kind – surely not exactly Chinese tradition, but our own modified version, rather somewhat representing parts of the ancient stories behind the celebration.
Now I know what you’re thinking, the fried rice thing sounds about right being a Chinese cuisine staple, but what’s with the red dessert? Well, I’m glad you asked because while there are slightly varying tales, the general idea is the same and the reason behind much of the festivities with an overall tone of celebrating life and new beginnings.
Now before I begin, this is a loose version of what I’ve come to understand in this story and I am in no way an expert, but just a mama trying to share varying cultures of the world with her babies. Now where was I, oh yes, there was a sea monster. I mean of course there’s a sea monster because why not give me another reason to hate the open water? Sharks, sea monsters…but I digress…
The tale starts with there having lived a horrible sea monster called “Nian” that would awaken the first day of every lunar year and wreak havoc on the villages eating their livestock, crops, and even children (yikes! That’s some monster!) - sending the people to flee to remote mountain areas to escape the monster’s fury and destruction. One year a wise old man saw what was going on and gave the village people what he believed was the secret to defeating the monster – loud noises, light, strange creatures, and the color red. This in turn has translated to why we traditionally see people set off firecrackers, or you may see dragon or lion dances in the streets (I’ve read this is a way to pray for good luck and drive away evil spirits), the hanging of paper lanterns, and lots of red decorations with the color red which is associated with the fire element representing life and vitality and because it’s viewed so positively it often symbolizes happiness, success, and good fortune. Not a bad gig for a color, eh?! Now once the secrets were shared with the village people the monster was never a bother again. The end. Now there is probably a ton more to this story but that’s my summed-up version.
The other important meaning behind the new year is the animal in which the year represents, which this year just happens to be the same year in which you were born – The Tiger! Prepare yourself for another loose interpretation.
Legend has it that a long, long, like a really long time ago the Jade Emperor ordered that animals would be part of the calendar. The first 12 animals to arrive would be included in that order. With a series of blunders and random challenges along the way, the first to arrive was the Rat, followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (or Sheep), Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. It is said that the year in which you were born is representative of your characteristics according to mythology. With yours being the Tiger a quick internet search tells me that it should mean you’re energetic – you never stop, check! Quite cautious – hmmm I suppose you anticipate and take measures of things you don’t like i.e.: run away or grab headphones – check! You need challenges to keep you happy and healthy – (Got plenty of those) check! Occasionally Tigers come into conflict easily with people in authority – (well you’re not a fan of the word “no”) check! Truth be told when looking this up there was a lot of varying descriptions on traits but I’m sure you wear your Tiger name accurately and proud whatever the description😉
Now having done my best with my non-expert interpretation of the festivities it was back to your original question, what’s up with the red dessert? Well, now you know that red is a symbolic color in the Chinese culture so I decided for our modified tradition to always make it the dessert. Last year it was strawberry cheesecake, the year before, ice cream with fresh strawberry sauce, and this year, with valentines kinda on my side, it was cupcakes with heart-shaped red sprinkles – and by the evidence left in the kitchen of you sneaking down for a midnight snack of good fortune, I’d say you enjoyed. Now as for my fried rice earlier in the evening you looked at it, leaned in to get a good smell, looked me dead in the eyes, and in the most upbeat manner said “Show me tacos!” because you know nothing says Chinese New Year celebration quite like tacos. Maybe you’ll try it next year.
Addie this week we celebrated something of another culture, another culture that has now started a new tradition in our own family. How cool is that?! I might not have got all the details right but the most important part was we were all together and my sincere hope is that maybe we all learned a little something new too.
I hope you enjoyed all that good fortune you consumed as a sneaky midnight snack, don’t mind me as I’m washing it all out of the couch.
Love you my little Tiger baby!
Love,
Mom
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