This Lunar New Year, I decided to come back to New York for the weekend to celebrate with my family. When I was little, I remember New Year’s Eves to be hectic. My grandmother would spend the week ahead preparing for the biggest dinner of the year while my grandfather would replace the traditional red banners with new ones. Since they lived in Flushing, New York, another Chinatown of sorts, there would be lion dances and parades happening outside as well. You could really feel the festivity of the holiday, from the house to the streets.
As I have grown older, I am no longer an audience to the holiday, but I take part in the preparations now as well. This year, with my grandparents in Taiwan, unable to come back, the responsibilities have only increased. Between balancing school, work and preparing, it seemed like the magic of the holidays I felt as a child have suddenly diminished. I have realized the real work that is put into making Lunar New Year happen. It also made me realize the future of Lunar New Years. If I were to continue the traditions that I grew up with, I would have to start learning all of them now.
This Lunar New Year, a lot of things have changed. I am no longer the kid whose main job is to show up and receive red envelopes. I have new responsibilities making Lunar New Year happen is one of them. But for now, I am glad I am still at the age where I can receive red envelopes. I am dreading the day where I become the one to give out red envelopes instead.
