Red Envelopes and Chinese Jollification

The Lunar New Year holiday is ending and even though everyone seems to be back in town from the fantastic travels of sunshine-laden coastlines and snow-driven skiing and snowboarding in Bangkok, Tokyo, and Sydney, the spirit of the Year of the Tiger is all around. In Chinese culture, there are a lot of special customs that weigh in. Red is the color of good luck and you will see it emblazoned in banners, lanterns, and a special gift given during this time of year, called Lai See in Cantonese, or 紅包. Lai See is a gift that approaches in the form of a crimson red envelope to symbolize not only good luck but also prosperity, and the warding off of evil spirits. Each packet contains a gift of money and is usually in the form of a single bill, either folded once, or not at all so as to hide its contents when the envelope is presented to someone. Even though many of the expatriates that emigrate to China and/or a nation (SAR) such as Hong Kong are not Chinese, one can still receive Lai See as an expatriate. As the custom goes, these red packets are presented by married Chinese couples to those who are single and gives the couple properity for their marriage. A young Chinese couple will also give their elders Lai See as a sign of respect in a series of family dinners. The Lunar New Year very much serves the purpose traditional Christmases in the United States do for the nuclear family - gift giving, family dinners, and a chance to spend time with loved ones in gatherings, singing, parties, and laughter.

As an American, I did not really expect to receive any Lai See, but I have counted a number of (5) Lai See I have received. An interesting side note is that even numbers are preferred for good luck, so most of the time you receive Lai See, it is often given in the form of two red envelopes by the giver. Lai See is also a symbol of happiness and is given in greater form by couples in their first year of marriage so they can have a successful start for their life together. Most of my Lai See was received by young couples who were recently married, so that was a welcome surprise and made me feel a part of this special, unique culture.

Last week during the time when many were spending time with family or traveling to exotic destinations in Asia or nearby continents, a few of my friends were able to celebrate Chinese New Year (Kung Hei Fat Choy!) in Hong Kong fashion. I had a chance to attend a few dinners and go dancing, but one of my favorite things to see and be seen during was the Lion Dance we witnessed at Dragon-i.1 This is a nearby restaurant and lounge in the evenings. Performers mimic a lion's movements dressed in a traditional costume and dance around to cultural drum beats. Supposedly, many of the performers are from local Kung Fu clubs. This is not surprising, as martial artists fly to Hong Kong from around the world to dazzle the local folk with parades as well. Alas! I did not see any parades or fireworks since none of my friends were excited about that and the crowds were thick.

Valentine's Weekend fell on the same few days during the Chinese New Year holiday. A few of my girlfriends took me to a special soiree at the W Hotel and later, to a dinner in the Central District with very American food. It was quite hilarious. A chicken hot dog with mustard, souerkraut, and French Fries with parmesan cheese and a few lbs later...I was missing the junk food I never eat. It seemed appropriate to spend it with the girls. Interestingly enough, I have met someone special who I did not spend the Valentine's holiday with but took me to dinner at Sushi Kuu recently to make up for it, as he was out of town. Sushi is also a very Californian novelty. There are only a few in the city I've discovered with fresh seafood and not so much of that dripping, rich mayonnaise they cover the so-so sashimi and sushi with. (To disguise its not so proper taste.)

All in all, the Chinese New Year was quite auspicious for me, and I continue to be amazed as the essence of Hong Kong and Cantonese culture is creeping up to me. My life is full of laughter and love each day, and I am so thankful.

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_dance
The lion dance originated in India[citation needed] [2][3][4]. The lion is traditionally regarded as a guardian creature. It is featured in Buddhist lore, being the mount of Manjusri. Shishimai is a version of the Lion Dance practiced in Japanese culture (shishimai originally included danced involving other animal symbols, including deer).[1][2]

Chinese lion dances can be broadly categorised into two styles, Northern (北獅) and Southern (南獅). The Northern dance was used as entertainment for the imperial court and elsewhere. The northern lion is usually red, orange, and yellow (sometimes with green fur for the female lion), shaggy in appearance, with a golden head. The northern dance is acrobatic and may include dangerous stunts.

Southern dance is more symbolic. It is usually performed as a ceremony to exorcise evil spirits and to summon luck and fortune. The southern lion exhibits a wide variety of colour and has a distinctive head with large eyes, a mirror on the forehead, and a single horn at center of the head.