A MULTILINGUAL 新年, a MONGOLIAN new year’s eve
As I stepped into the bustling streets with my family, I could feel the electric energy in the air. 红灯笼 red lanterns adorned every corner, casting a warm glow over the village. The rhythmic beat of 堂鼓 ceremonial hall drums and the clashing of cymbals filled my ears, creating a lively symphony that echoed through the alleys. The aroma of incense and street food wafted through the air, mingling with the sounds and colors of the festivities.
People dressed in vibrant red and gold outfits, the auspicious colors of Chinese New Year, filled the streets with 福气 lucky spirit, smiling and greeting each other with well wishes. Children ran around, clutching their 大白兔糖 white rabbit candy with glee, while adults exchanged 红包, the traditional red envelopes filled with money, as a symbol of prosperity and blessings for the year ahead.
As I made my way to the local 市场 market with my family and grandparents, I was captivated by the sight of 舞狮舞龙, lion and dragon dances, that mesmerized the crowd. The acrobatic 狮子 lions leaped and twirled, augmented by the rhythmic beating of 堂鼓 drums and 钹 cymbals, brewing a palpable air of excitement amongst the crowds. The colorful dragon 舞龙, with its sinuous body and powerful movements, represents a symbol of strength and good fortune. Both the lion and dragon weaved their way through the streets—spreading 吉祥如意 happiness and festivity everywhere that they dance.
The streets were lined with vendors selling aromatic Chinese and Mongolian 街头小吃 street food delicacies and 传统手工艺品 traditional artisan crafts. The market stalls were filled with a dazzling array of festive treats— from 羊肉串儿 lamb skewers, to 红糖年糕 brown sugar sticky rice cakes, to 糖葫芦 candied haw fruits, the vendors were calling out their wares—enticing me with their delicious smells and vibrant displays. I couldn't resist sampling some of the culinary delights, savoring the rich flavors and unique textures of each dish.
Other vendors were selling a diverse array of traditional decorations, charms, and crafts; from 红灯笼 red lanterns, to 剪纸 paper cutouts of 十二生肖 the twelve Chinese zodiac animals, to 门口对联 duìlián paper door banners, to 倒符 upside down fú—I was captivated by the intricate artisanship and vibrant colors of the decorations. Each of the different Chinese New Year decorations symbolize a different meaning according to the legend of ‘Nian’.
‘Nian’ was a monster who would always come out of his frozen tundra during the end of winter and the dawn of spring when Chinese villagers were just beginning to celebrate the first blooming signs of spring, revival of life. Every year, ‘Nian’ would terrorize the villages and bring destruction to the Chinese people and their homes. The villagers prayed to the 天堂皇帝, emperor of the sky and heavens, to send a savior to rescue the village and prevent ‘Nian’ from destroying their homes. One year, their prayers were answered when a little boy in the village was dressed in a vibrant red outfit; as ‘Nian’ came out of his hibernation to attack the village again, he saw the the little boy dressed in red, and yelped in fear. The little boy then set off red firecrackers and told all of the villagers to create and put red decorations on their doors. The red decorations therefore acted like a 护身符 protectant charm for all of the families and children—celebrating as the the scary ‘Nian’ was driven out of their villages.
Each of the different decorations, therefore, carry a different meaning in Chinese tradition. The red lanterns cast a red glow that light the way for villagers to go home safely in the evening, as darkness descended and the ‘Nian’ monster was preparing to attack. Thus, the red latern has come to be associated with driving off bad luck and representing light and guidance. The red paper cutouts, and paper door banners ensure protection and safety for villagers who hang them in front of their doors. And finally,
The Our family would always purchase a few decorations to bring the blessings and protection into our own home.
As the daylight began to fade and the evening descended upon us, the town was illuminated with an even more captivating sight. 烟花 fireworks painted a brilliant array of colors across the sky, creating a breathtaking show of lights that filled the atmosphere. The city streets were ablaze with the scarlet glow of firecrackers. A symphonic cacophony of the sound of laughter and cheer filled the air, and the night came alive in a whirlwind of palpable, brewing excitement and joy.
Near the end of the market, the air was thick with incense smoke and 雕像 statues of Buddas such as 观音菩萨 Quan Yin and 大肚眯快佛 Laughing Buddha and the 审查制度 (shěnchá zhìdù) censurs in front of the 菩萨 buddhas burned slowly; worshippers lined up to pay their duties and respects to the deities. The sound of 诵经 spiritual chanting and bells ringing filled the air, creating a serene and reverent atmosphere. The intricate 国画 calligraphy paintings and vibrant 铁窗 paper decorations on the windows depicted scenes from Chinese mythology and history, adding to the sense of awe and reverence. As I walked through the market grounds, I marveled at the array of 供品 offerings made by devotees. Fresh mandarins, 水果盘 fruit baskets, 花束 flower bouquets, and burning 烧香 incense filled the altars, creating a fragrant and colorful display. The soft glow of candles and the flickering light of oil lamps added to the mystical ambiance, creating a sense of peace and spirituality.
As we walked leisurely back home, still taking in the fading roar of the festivities of the streets, I felt myself bubbling with excitement to begin to perform our family traditions and rituals. Upon entering my grandparent’s home, the women in my family would surround the dining table to prepare the 年夜饭, New Year Eve’s feast. On the other hand, the men in my family would sit around the TV, downing 白酒 Chinese vodka in porcelain blue shot glasses, and roaring with laughter and drunken conversation. 年夜饭 New Year’s Dinner consisted of a rich amalgamation of several dishes, each symbolizing its own meaning. Several of the most important, signature dishes that are eaten annually in my family, include 水饺 with a variety of different delicious 馅儿 or fillings. My family loves to eat the following fillings: 青菜猪肉馅儿 which is celery and pork filling, 韭菜鸡蛋馅儿 chive and eggs filling, 胡萝卜羊肉馅儿 carrot and lamb filling, and 素材馅儿 which is a vegetable filling usually composed of vermicilli rice noodles, baby shrimp, cabbage, mushroom, and any other sauteed or unused vegetables.
With practiced fingers, my mom, 姥姥 maternal grandma, and 舅妈 maternal auntie would deftly roll out the dough for the dumplings and form them into the shape of a circle. They would often cajole me to join them in sealing the circle of dough with the different fillings, requiring me to learn how to skillfully press the edges of the circle dough so that they look like they are laced with a lettuce pattern, and shape them into perfect crescents. When making dumplings, my 姥姥 would carefully wash and select several 人名币 RMB coins and place them inside the filling; We carry the tradition of hiding the coins inside of the dumpling, because it is believed to bring good luck and fortune to the person who eats the dumpling—given that they don’t swallow the coin.
In addition to 水饺, on my maternal side of the family, we are Han-Mongolian so my 姥姥 would also often make her signature 蒙古火锅 Mongolian hot pot, a rich and indulgent dish lined with hand-made pork meatballs, seaweed, and 扣肉 buckle meat or braised pork belly. She prepares the dish by slowly simmering everything together in a flavorful braising liquid until it is tender and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. As the pork and buckle meat cooks, the fat begins to render—infusing it with a deep, savory flavor. My 姥姥 makes the braising liquid with sugar, soy sauce, and a variety of aromatics like ginger and star anise—adding a complex sweetness to the dish. The flavor of the final meat is a rich balance of savory and umami notes that linger on the tongue. Oftentimes guests would coo as my grandma lifted up the lid and steam would rise out of the boiling pot—revealing a dish with a beautiful caramel-colored glaze, with meat so tender that it falls apart with the slightest touch of a fork. The hearty, shared dish is a symbol that mimics the warmth, comfort, and celebration of our family gatherings at Chinese New Year and is always devoured fully with delight, leaving our hearts full, bellies stuffed, and plates empty.
Finally, my family would almost always prepare steamed fish because of the Chinese saying 年年有余 symbolizing abundance and excess and a mimicry of the word ‘yu’ meaning excess, to the sound of the word ‘fish’ also pronounced ‘yu’. Usually, it is my dad who will steam the fish whole and marinate it in a combination of soy sauce, rice wine, ginger, and scallions, so that it is inundated with a delicate yet savory flavor. The white fish is loaded with aromatic fillings such as garlic, lemon slices, radishes, and bell peppers, adding an extra burst of freshness to the dish. My dad steams the fish over high heat until it is tender, flaky, and garnishes it with colorful vegetables like cilantro, thinly sliced potatoes, and ginger. Finally, my dad will drizzle and coat the fish in a delicious sauce made with vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar for an extra burst of flavor and moisture, creating the perfect balance of sweet and savory to each bite.
After everyone enjoys the delectable feast, often pants unbuttoned by the end of the night, we would turn on the Chinese New Year show and start the countdown until midnight, before performing our annual tradition, the red envelop ritual that the children in the family have to perform to their elders. It is tradition for my brother, cousins, and I to dress in our best clean clothes and stand before our elders—including our parents, grandparents, uncles and aunties—to perform deep bows in exchange for crisp, red envelops filled with money. Specifically, the bows we have to enact include three main steps: first, we have to say prayers and blessings to the elder that we are receiving red packet money from. This includes proverbial idioms such as 住长辈生体健康, meaning to wish our elders good health; 万事如意 meaning to wish a successful and smooth time ahead; 长寿不老 meaning to wish longevity and a good life; and many many more good omens for the new year. After saying our prayers, the children are expected to get on our knees, and bow so deeply to our elders that our forehead has to touch the ground three times before getting up to receive the red packet money. The purpose of doing this is to practice our values of filial piety, gratitude, and respect for our elders. Moreover, it can also be seen as a traditional and spiritual practice where the children show their appreciation for their elders using prayers and blessings in exchange for red packet money; while the elders reciprocate in a more material way by giving us tangible money, Chinese tradition emphasizes how sincere intentions are more valuable than any possession. The red envelop ritual is a necessity in both my family and the general Chinese tradition in order to welcome good fortune in for the new year.
Before everyone would go off to bed, my 姥爷 and 姥姥 would share stories about their childhood celebrating Chinese New Year. In Mongolia, it is tradition to worship the fire god of their shamanist roots, where the elders of the family would light nine small lamps and offer sacrifices of mutton, butter wine, and other delicacies to the fire, while chanting incantations to our ancestors for protection and blessings for the new year. After the initial welcoming of the new year on New Year’s Eve, the celebrations continue on for an entire week.
Ever since entering college, I am not able to join my grandparents and family physically in Mongolia to celebrate our annual Chinese New Year gatherings. Instead, my brother and I join in virtually through video-calling our family over the Chinese app Wechat, to say our prayers and wish our extended family good luck and prosperity for the new year ahead. I miss walking through the night market with my family in the evening—sampling different street vendor food and taking home lucky charms and decorations. I miss seeing the fireworks light up the sky and fire crackers create a explosive cacophy of ‘booms,’ ‘bangs,’ and ‘pangs.’ I miss my grandmother’s cooking and hearing the obnoxious, thundering laughter of my jiu jiu uncle and lao ye maternal grandpa catching up with my dad and his business in Shanghai. Soon, I know that I will be able to cherish these moments again, reunited through the spirit of our family new year traditions.