Lunar New Year 2012: Family Matters – Comedy, Feasting and Mahjong

Hong Kong — For Twinko Li and her family, the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong means feasting, visiting relatives and taking in a slapstick festive film.

The Li family is not unusual. The Lunar New Year is by far the biggest festival in the calendar and it is a rare Hong Kong family that does not mark the occasion in style — observing age-old rites and obligations — and enjoying some more recent innovations, too.

CHINESE NEW YEAR COMEDIES

These comedies are a relatively new phenomenon but have become a popular must-do for many families.

Filmed specially for the Lunar New Year, they are unique genre that feature a cast of local celebrities, crazy behaviour, romantic comedy and a guaranteed happy ending.

“People in Hong Kong like to watch these kinds of movies because they don’t need to think.

“For the New Year, it is better to watch a happy film where they just sit there, enjoy and laugh,” Twinko, the youngest daughter in the Li family, said.

This year, the Li family watched the seventh sequel of  All’s Well, Ends Well, starring Stephen Chow of Shaolin Soccer. The first in the series went out in 1992.

“This year’s instalment was a lot better than last year,” Li said. Twinko and her parents have made a point of viewing the comedy for the past five years and this has become a custom the family plans to continue.

THE “OPEN YEAR” MEAL

The “open year meal” — the first meal of the New Year bringing the entire family together is an ancient tradition — and another important rite for the Li family.

Twinko visited her grandmother’s place with her parents where they were joined by aunts and uncles bearing gifts. Her grandmother had spent two whole days preparing family favourites.

Twinko with her lai see

“There is always barely any food left by the end of the meal,” Twinko said.

Her favourite part of the annual open year meal comes before the food is served: receiving lai see — lucky money in red packets.

Symbolizing good luck for the year ahead, married people hand out lai see to the unmarried — and children always benefit.

Giving and receiving lai see involves its own set of customs:

“Kung hei fat choi!” (literally: congratulations, be prosperous) says the recipient who must wish the giver good luck and and prosperity in the year head.

Both hands must be used in the exchange.

“Since I am not married yet, I get more than two dozen red packets each year that range from a single $20, $50 or $100 bill from my family and colleagues,” Twinko said.

When the meal is over, the entire Li settles down for another family favourite: mahjong. The holiday season provides an opportunity to play later into the night than usual.