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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright January 2023
I once lived in New York City for a few years and let me tell you there's nothing like celebrating the lunar new year in the Big Apple.
I suppose the large number of this ethnic group in the city is one reason that the lunar new year is a big event here.
The Chinese American population of the New York City metropolitan area was an estimated 893,697 as of 2017, making it the largest and most prominent Asian national diaspora outside Asia. (ANC)
I am sure the number must have risen to one million by now.
Anyway, I wished I was there this year because old friends in NYC tell me that the Year of the Rabbit will be ushered in on a grand scale in 2023 now that the city is free of Covid19.
For instance, friends in Queens tell me that on January 22 the Better Chinatown Society will light hundreds of thousands of firecrackers to welcome the Year of the Rabbit and ward off evil spirits at Roosevelt Park.
I have not seen such a sight since my childhood days in the 1960s in Alor Setar when the whole town would be burning miles of firecrackers to celebrate the new year. But firecrackers is now fortunately or unfortunately banned in Malaysia!
I guess New York City has not banned the cultural practice of scaring ghosts away with firecrackers.
It'll be a deafening event for all, I am sure with the foul smell of gunpowder in the air that will drive away anything and everything, not just ghosts.
Besides the pyrotechnics, they will stage lion dances all day long. That would be a sight to behold in this city that is known for its melting pot of many cultures. But lion dance is a prerogative of the ABC, American Born Chinese.
Organisers are also planning to have traditional craft vendors and food booths for New Yorkers to get their fill of traditional Chinese culinary delights and delicacies. It'll be a fabulous day for everyone who care to join in the celebrations there. Those days we would go to the food fair with empty stomachs.
Similarly, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, my favourite hang out place, there will be performances, interactive activities and workshops led by artists one day before the new year on Saturday, January 21.
Besides, these activities are free with Museum admission. "Incredible", remarked some old friends, "getting freebies in a city where you have to pay for everything you do, except breathe in the polluted city air." The Chinese New Year is really special in NYC said my old kakis. "We wished you were here!"
However, in comparison, The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) might just outdo The Met with a month long free programming for all ages. But they tell me that the main event is a MOCA Family Day on Saturday, January 21 where thousands are expected to attend. MOCA will showcase a lion dance performance too followed by noodle pulling and a candy making demo the Chinese way. We have that too at Petaling Street, KL but in NYC it's done with more style and the place is squeaky clean.
Where workshops are concerned MOCA will offer a ribbon dance workshop, red envelope art and many more activities related to the Chinese lunar new year celebrations to liven up the holidays for this significant community of New York City. Many who attended similar programs came away impressed with what the Chinese community had to offer.
But more importantly, from 3 January to 19 February 2023, "the streets at Chinatown are decorated with colourful lanterns and sculptures of Rabbit, to mark the celebration of Lunar New Year. The light-up will take place from 7pm to 12 midnight." (Trevallog)
"Besides the street light-up and street decorations, there will also be a festive fair / bazaar, weekly stage show, and a countdown on Chinese New Year’s Eve!" (Trevallog)
I often wonder when we in KL would emulate some of the events from New York City that could help promote understanding about the finer side of Chinese culture for locals. Next year, perhaps?
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