Celebrating Lunar New Year in Taiwan

Happy Lunar New Year! Today is New Year's Eve (31.01.2022), so we returned to my parents-in-law's place to celebrate. My husband and I prepared decorations and put up couplets on the doors. While my parents-in-law prepared food for the prayers and celebrations later, we went out to find some food for ourselves. It was quite difficult to find an open restaurant. Afterward, we bought scratch cards, two for ourselves and two as a gift for my parents-in-law. We spent 400NT on ours, but unfortunately, none of them had a winning number this year. We weren't lucky.

In the afternoon, my husband went out to meet his friends, but my sister-in-law kept me company. She taught me and Adrian how to make soap at home. We were all ready to move the food upstairs to the Buddha Room when my husband came back, just in time to join us. I feel like there was much more food this year compared to the past, and I have developed a liking for more types of food. We took some incense and prayed there, performing a small ceremony of pouring water in cups for our ancestors. As new members of the family, Adrian and I also participated in this ritual. After a few minutes, we were ready to move all the food downstairs and enjoy our dinner. My husband and I warmed everything before eating, and my sister-in-law took our son to buy fireworks.

Some of the food we had today included bok choy, beans, mushrooms, vegetarian meatballs, radish cake, and sweet treats like New Year Cake (nian gao). I will be writing another post in the future to introduce Lunar New Year food and its significance.

Later on, we went to an empty parking lot to play with fireworks. Actually, I haven't played with fireworks much in the past, so I thought it might be dangerous for a small child like Adrian. They lit incense sticks and Adrian was really happy about it. Actually, I had a nice day too. We felt closer and more like a family, even though we barely speak much due to my limited Chinese (and the fact that I don't like talking too much). We don't have a good relationship with my sister-in-law as she often causes trouble and creates conflicts that make everyone dislike her. However, today she was really nice.

Unlike Christmas, the date of Chinese New Year changes each year. It always falls between January 21 and February 20 and is determined by the lunar calendar. This year (2022), New Year is celebrated on February 1st.

Every Chinese New Year marks the beginning of a new animal's zodiac year. There are 12 Chinese zodiac animals in order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. 2022 is the Year of the Tiger.

The festival is celebrated for 16 days, culminating in the Lantern Festival. Traditionally, each of the 16 days from Chinese New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival had its own special celebration activity.

See also: Lantern Festival Celebration around Taiwan

How to wish Happy New Year in Chinese? 

新年好 (Xīnnián hǎo) - to wish a Good New Year

新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè) - to wish a Happy New Year

恭喜发财 (Gōngxǐ fācái) - to wish prosperity and wealth

大吉大利 (Dàjí dàlì) - to wish luck and great fortune

年年有余 (Nián nián yǒuyú) - to wish abundance (endless fish)

步步高升 (Bùbù gāo shēng) - to wish someone will move up in the world

五福临门 (Wǔfú línmén) - to wish someone five blessings (longevity, luck, safety, morality, satisfaction)

合家团圆 (Hé jiā tuányuán) - to wish family reunion

虎虎生风 (Hǔ hǔ shēng fēng) - to wish the strength and vigor of a Tiger

Traditions and Activities during New Year

Chinese New Year's Eve  (Jan. 31, 2022)

Putting Up New Year Decorations

Houses are decorated with red lanterns, red spring couplets, paper cuttings, and New Year's paintings to keep evil away and pray for blessings, longevity, health, and peace.

Offering Sacrifices to Ancestors

Offering sacrifices to ancestors is an important practice during Chinese New Year as a way to show respect and piety. It is believed that ancestral spirits protect their descendants and bring them prosperity.

On Chinese New Year's Eve, many people worship their ancestors before the reunion dinner, symbolically allowing their ancestors to "eat" first. Offerings such as meat, wine, joss sticks, and joss paper are placed in front of the ancestral shrine. However, if your parents-in-law are vegetarian, they may offer fruits or cakes as common alternatives, such as nian gao or fa gao. These offerings are a way to honor and remember the ancestors and seek their blessings for the coming year.

Enjoying a Reunion Dinner

The Lunar New Year's Eve reunion dinner is a significant and cherished tradition where all family members come together to celebrate. It's considered a "must-do" dinner to welcome the new year. During this special meal, dishes with symbolic meanings are often prepared to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year.

Some of the traditional dishes commonly included in the reunion dinner are fish, dumplings, Nian Gao (sticky rice cake), and spring rolls. Fish symbolizes abundance and prosperity, dumplings represent wealth and good fortune, Nian Gao signifies growth and advancement, and spring rolls symbolize wealth and a fresh start. These dishes are believed to bring luck and blessings to the family.

Although in my in-laws' house, the food is more focused on vegetarian options such as rice, radish cake, and leafy vegetables. I have never experienced a traditional Lunar New Year dinner that includes non-vegetarian dishes.

Watching New Year Gala

Watching the New Year Gala has become a customary tradition for many families. The Gala typically begins at 8 pm and continues until midnight when the Chinese New Year arrives. When I was living with my in-laws, they would always watch it, but I personally found it a bit outdated.

Giving Red Envelopes (Lucky Money) to Kids

Another tradition during Lunar New Year is giving red envelopes, also known as lucky money, to kids. Parents usually give these envelopes to their children after the reunion dinner, expressing their wishes for their children's health, growth, and success in the upcoming year. The money inside the red envelopes is believed to bring good luck, as the color red is considered auspicious in Taiwan.

Staying Up Late

Staying up late on Lunar New Year's Eve is a custom known as "shousui" (守歲), which means to keep watch over the year. In the past, people used to stay up all night, but nowadays most people stay up until midnight when the firecrackers and fireworks have subsided.

Buying lottery or cratch cards 

Another popular activity during Lunar New Year is buying lottery tickets or scratch cards. Lottery and scratch cards are highly sought after during this time, and lottery shops are often crowded as people hope for a chance to win. We also decided to try our luck and purchased some scratch cards. Fortunately, our winnings covered the cost of the scratch cards, bringing some extra excitement to the festivities.

Chinese New Year's Day (Feb. 1, 2022)

Setting Off Firecrackers and Fireworks

It's believed that the louder the firecrackers, the better and luckier it will be for business and farming in the coming year. This tradition originated from the legend of the monster called Nian, which would emerge on New Year's Eve to devour villagers and destroy their homes. The discovery that burning dry bamboo created explosive sounds scared away the monster, leading to the use of firecrackers during Chinese New Year.

Putting on New Clothes and Extending New Year Greetings

On the first day of Lunar New Year, people dress in new clothes and greet each other with phrases like "gongxi" (恭喜), which means greetings or best wishes.

Watching Lion and Dragon Dances

Lion and dragon dances are popular performances on Lunar New Year's Day. These vibrant and lively dances symbolize good luck, fortune, and warding off evil spirits.

Public Celebrations at Parks and Temple Fairs

Public celebrations take place in parks and temple fairs during Chinese New Year. These events often feature cultural performances, traditional games, food stalls, and other festive activities.

Chinese New Year: Day 2 (Feb. 2, 2022)

Traditionally, married daughters visit their parents' homes on the second day of Chinese New Year. They bring gifts and red envelopes (lucky money) to their families and relatives. On this day, people also offer sacrifices to the God of Wealth, hoping for a more prosperous year ahead.

Lunar New Year: Days 3–7 (Feb. 3–7, 2022)

From the third to the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, people visit relatives and friends to extend greetings and exchange gifts.

Chinese tradition discourages cleaning homes during the first two days of the New Year, as sweeping during this time is believed to sweep away the accumulated good luck from firecrackers, red paper, wrappers, and other signs of celebration. The first house-sweep usually takes place after these initial days.

New Year: Day 8 (Feb. 8, 2022)

On the eighth day, people typically return to work. The number eight is considered highly auspicious in Taiwan, so many businesses choose to reopen on this day to attract good luck.

New Year: Day 15 (Feb. 15, 2022) - Lantern Festival

The fifteenth day of the New Year is known as the Lantern Festival (元宵節). It marks the traditional end of the Spring Festival celebrations. During this festival, people release floating lanterns onto the sea or rivers or send glowing lanterns into the sky, creating a beautiful spectacle of lights.

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Gift Giving Etiquette for Chinese New Year: Do's and Don'ts

Lunar New Year is a time for family gatherings and gift-giving, which is an important part of this annual event. The most popular colors for this season are red and gold, so you will find many packages in those colors. However, there are some rules about what is or isn't considered appropriate as a gift during this time.

When receiving a gift, it is customary not to open it immediately. Instead, offer a kind thank you and set the gift aside to open later.

Popular gifts for Lunar New Year

Tea: Taiwanese people love tea, so a nicely wrapped box of tea makes a thoughtful gift.

Fruits: Fruit baskets, boxes of oranges, or boxes of apples are common and auspicious gifts. Apples symbolize safety, while oranges symbolize fortune.

Home Supplies: Items like a tea set, electrical equipment, or cooking appliances can be nice gifts, especially for someone who has recently moved into a new house.

Alcohol: If the person you are gifting drinks alcohol, a nice bottle of alcohol could be a suitable choice.

Red Envelopes: Red envelopes are the most popular gifts, especially when given to children. The amount of money given usually starts with lucky numbers like 6 or 8. Ensure that the money is new, as offering worn or old banknotes is considered disrespectful.

Candy and Chocolates: Candies or chocolates are also popular gifts for Chinese New Year, and many shops sell gift boxes during this time.

Books/Toys: Educational books, coloring books, toys, or items that match a child's interests and age can make nice presents.

What you should avoid gifting during Lunar New Year

Necklaces, Ties, and Belts: These items are associated with intimate relationships and are often given by couples, so it is not suitable for platonic friends.

Wallets: Gifting a wallet symbolizes giving away all your money and potentially losing your finances and luck. However, it is acceptable to gift a wallet to a spouse who shares financial accounts.

Handkerchiefs: Handkerchiefs are generally given at funerals and symbolize saying goodbye forever.

Dolls: Some people consider cloth dolls to attract evil spirits.

Umbrellas: The Chinese word for umbrella sounds like the word for breaking up, so gifting an umbrella may imply that the relationship has ended.

Hats: Hats associated with mourning are considered unlucky gifts.

Black or White Objects: These colors are traditionally used in funerals, so it is best to avoid presenting gifts that are predominantly black or white.

Sharp Objects: Giving sharp objects, such as knives or scissors, is believed to sever the relationship and is considered bad luck.

Pears: The word for pears sounds similar to the word for leaving or parting, so it is considered bad luck to gift pears during Chinese New Year.

Scented Candles: Candles are associated with veneration for the dead and should not be given as gifts.

Cut Flowers: Cut flowers are typically associated with funerals and are not appropriate gifts for Chinese New Year.

Mirrors: Mirrors are believed to attract malicious ghosts, and they are easily broken, which is seen as a bad omen.

Shoes: The word for shoes sounds like a word for bad luck or evil.

Anything with the number '4': The number four sounds similar to the word for death, so anything displaying the number 4 is considered unlucky.

Clocks or Watches: Gifting clocks or watches sounds similar to attending a funeral ritual and is considered bad luck. Clocks and watches also symbolize the running out of time, which can be uncomfortable for seniors.

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Will Taiwan Face Another Lockdown? An Update on Our Life

Lunar New Year is coming soon, and since the beginning of the new year, COVID-19 cases have started to rise again in Taiwan. However, the situation is not as serious as in Europe or America, where there are several thousand cases each day (Poland, for example, has over 40,000 cases daily). Initially, we had very few cases, less than 10. It slowly grew to 20-30 cases per day, until last Saturday (01/22) when there were 82 local cases, with other days still around 40. These case counts only include local cases, not those coming from abroad. So the total number of cases in Taiwan is close to or over 100 per day.

The government still states that everything is under control, as all local cases can be traced back to their origins. However, with the upcoming long holiday of 9 days for Lunar New Year (01/29 - 02/06), the number of cases could increase, and there may be more restrictions for us. Some schools have already switched to online learning, and some workplaces have implemented split shifts to limit contact between employees, with some even adopting work-from-home arrangements. My husband's workplace has divided employees into two groups working in shifts from 8 AM to 4 PM and 5 PM to 1 AM.

Unfortunately, on 01/25-01/26, we also had two COVID-19 cases in Shanhua. I was just playing in the park with my child when two people on scooters arrived and sprayed the area with alcohol. Due to this, in the last two days before the holiday, my husband decided to work from home. Hopefully, after the holidays, life will return to normal and not be like May 2021 when everyone started working from home, which lasted for three months.

It's only January, but this year already seems challenging. It's not just COVID-19; our fridge has also broken down, just a week before the holidays when I had some cake orders. The landlord won't fix the fridge as it's too expensive, but we will be getting a new one in a few days. Initially, the shop told us they could deliver it on Sat 01/29, which is already a holiday, and I would have had to cancel all my orders. We asked our neighbor for help to store our food, but he's going back to Hualien for the New Year holidays, so if the fridge arrives too late, we won't have a place to keep it. Luckily, we negotiated, and our fridge arrived at the beginning of this week. We had planned to buy our own and had already made a reservation at the shop. However, once the landlord knew her fridge couldn't be fixed, she offered to pay for the one we bought, as she wouldn't need to do the shopping herself.

And just like every year, when one thing breaks, others seem to follow suit. Our mixer is also on the verge of dying. It started making strange sounds, just like last year when it reached the end of its warranty and stopped working. I feel like there aren't many options when it comes to finding a more powerful hand mixer. Most of the ones available in Taiwan are not very powerful (around 100-150W, sometimes even less). The one I bought was 350W, which is why we keep buying the same one when it reaches the end of its lifespan. Some brands have enough power, but their attachments are very fragile. I had one mixer that survived, but the strip beaters broke. Unfortunately, attachments cannot be purchased separately.

At the end of 2021, we also wrote our business plan as part of a government program for foreigners. We could only participate once and had to use both my name and our son's name. There are four categories to choose from, and we opted for the business category. We had to provide our story and explain our plans to grow the business. We also had to specify what we needed to purchase and why, including the amount of money required. Everything had to be written in Chinese, but if you are in Taiwan, you can inquire at your local foreign bureau for more details. There is a limited number of subsidies available, so we are unsure if we will be lucky enough to receive it or not. We would like to have a bigger fridge, an oven, and a more powerful mixer, but what I need the most is a bigger kitchen 😂 and, of course, more people ordering cakes. It's not an easy time for my business, as sales have decreased while costs have increased. With higher prices, there are even fewer customers than before. I wish life could go back to what it was like two years ago.

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Kaohsiung Cherry Blossom ~ Baoshan Cherry Park

Travel Date: 2022/01/16

Baoshan Cherry Park (寶山二集團櫻花公園) 

Baoshan Cherry Blossom is truly amazing. This year, I managed to wake up my husband and son earlier to witness this breathtaking view under the beautiful blue sky. Last year, we were a little late, and by 1-2 PM, it started to get cloudy and foggy.

From our place in Shanhua, Tainan, it's a 2-hour drive (which actually took almost 3 hours due to traffic). We usually choose the mountain road, as it is 20 km shorter in distance and takes a similar amount of time compared to driving on the highway. The drive from Shanhua to Jiaxian in Kaohsiung is quite smooth, without much traffic. However, after leaving Jiaxian and driving up to Baoshan Cherry Park (寶山二集團櫻花公園), it wasn't that perfect. Part of the road was under construction, and there are three bridges where traffic is controlled by traffic lights as there is only one lane. Usually, those spots have light traffic, but if you're unlucky, you might have to wait for 2-3 turns (roughly 5 minutes). The worst part was a driver in front of us who would suddenly stop in very unusual places, such as turns, causing cars on both lanes to come to a halt.

As we got closer to Baoshan Park, the traffic became worse and worse. Police officers were controlling the traffic and directing everyone to the car parking area. The road goes deeper into the mountains, but it was blocked, so the only option was to park your car earlier if possible. Since there were more people driving than available spaces, the waiting time was quite long. In the last 1-2 km, we waited almost the entire time. It took us 30 minutes to finally start moving, and luckily someone was leaving, so we could park. It was still about 800m away from the actual park, but it was considered quite close. We saw cars parked 2-3 km earlier. There is no place to make a U-turn, so if you're not lucky enough to find parking along the road, you'll be forced to drive to the designated car parking area.

Baoshan Sakura Park is located at an altitude of 1,500 meters and has around 5,000 cherry trees planted there, including Kawajin cherry, Yae cherry, and Yoshino cherry. Depending on the variety, the flowering period ranges from early February to March. The park was developed during the Japanese occupation.

If you have the opportunity, visiting on a weekday instead of the weekend would be much better to avoid crowds. There are also a few campgrounds in the area. If you have more time, you can also visit the nearby hot springs. One of the most popular hot springs in the area is Qi Keng Hot Spring (七坑溫泉), which is a natural hot spring. If you prefer a public hot spring park, there is Baolai Hot Springs Park (寶來花賞溫泉公園).

At the park entrance, you can find various food stalls selling BBQ meat, corn, sausages, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. There is also a shuttle bus available to the park, but since we always use our car, I can't provide more information about it. You can also consider signing up for a tour to explore the nearby attractions.

Inside the park, there are two types of cherry trees: darker Kanhizakura cherry trees and bright pink cherry trees. Near the entrance, you can enjoy the abundant pink blossoms. The place attracts a lot of people, so we kept walking forward initially. There are still many trees that haven't bloomed yet, and the cherry blossom season lasts for about a month.

Despite the rise in COVID-19 cases, there was no checking of the number of people entering the park, no temperature screening at the entrance, or QR code scanning. The only requirement was to sanitize your hands with alcohol. While people were reminded to wear masks, in the park, some people didn't pay much attention and wanted to take off their masks for pictures.

Address:

848高雄市桃源區荖濃溪林道寶山巷寶山二集團櫻花公園

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Tainan Travel: Baihe - Mud Hot Springs and Maples

Hongye Park (紅葉公園)

Taking advantage of the last warm and sunny day before the cold front arrived tonight, we decided to drive to Baihe - Hongye Park (紅葉公園). Once again, Google Maps directed us to a small road at the back of the park that wasn't suitable for driving. We had walked along that road last year, but this year we wanted to find the actual car parking within the park. However, it turned out that the roads we were driving on didn't connect to the parking area, which made it seem much farther. Nonetheless, there are two entrances to the park, both about a 500m walk away. If you prefer not to park along the road and walk through a somewhat creepy forest road like we did last year, an alternative option is to park around Guanziling Hot Spring. There is a public car park in front of the police station. From there, you'll have to climb several flights of stairs to reach the park.

Unfortunately, it was a bit disappointing as the maple trees were barely red, and some had already lost their leaves. There were a few cherry trees that were on the verge of blooming.

Baoquan Bridge (寶泉橋)

Unlike previous years, we made a stop at Baoquan Bridge (寶泉橋). If you cross the suspension bridge, you can catch a glimpse of the Mud Hot Springs. Currently, this area is under renovation (from 2021/12/10 to 2022/06/07), but we could still see some bubbling mud behind the protective fence. Please note that it's not safe to attempt to cross the fence as the mud has temperatures ranging from 70 to 80 degrees Celsius. The spring water is gray-black and contains salt, sulfur, and a significant amount of mud. While it can be used for bathing, it is not suitable for drinking. After soaking in the hot springs, the whole body feels comfortable, and the skin becomes smooth and clean. According to historical records, Guanziling Hot Spring is a natural mud hot spring known for its beauty and health benefits. The hot springs are transported from this area to nearby hotels.

Fire Lord Temple (火王爺廟)

Apart from this park, mud springs can also be found behind the nearby Fire Lord Temple (火王爺廟), in a well dug out behind it. The Fire Lord Temple was built during the Japanese occupation in 1902. Parking in that area can be challenging, so we didn't actually get to see the well. However, we made a stop at Lingding Park (嶺頂公園). It is the first mini golf course in Taiwan, established by the Japanese in 1932. Today, there are still some relics in Lingding Park, including several tall and huge longan trees, maple tree groves, and alleys lined with sweet-scented osmanthus trees. The most prominent building in the park is Dacheng Hall, which serves as the tourist service center for the Siraya National Scenic Area Management Office on the first floor. Along the road, you can find various food options, such as roasted chicken or BBQ. Keep in mind that prices here are typically quite high.

Address:

1. Hongye Park: 732台南市白河區關仔嶺溫泉區紅葉公園
2. Baoquan Bridge - Mud sSprings: 732台南市白河區寶泉橋寶泉橋
3. Fire Lord Temple: 732台南市白河區火王爺廟

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