GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — "It's really about strengthening the family bonds and also respecting the ancestors," said Xiaochen Liu, principal of the Grand Rapids Chinese Language School, who like many in West Michigan has been preparing to celebrate the largest holiday in many East and Southeast Asian cultures.
Lunar New Year marks the beginning of spring in the lunar calendar, referred to as the Spring Festival in Chinese culture. The holiday begins on the first new moon of the year and ends on the following full moon.
"It's a time of giving wishes to the new year, usually people wish lots of fortune, lots of good luck and prosperity for the new year," said Liu.
Liu also said families gather for large dinners with traditional food, such as dumplings. Families will also place calligraphy with poetic messages about good health and fortune.
Across cultures, family remains the center of celebration. Koreans refer to the Lunar New Year as Seollal, and children will do a formal bowing to adult family members, and in return receive well-wishes and money in brightly colored envelopes.
Children in Chinese and Vietnamese cultures similarly are gifted money in red envelopes, many times decorated.
"We celebrate it by mainly giving offerings to our ancestors, and we celebrate with our families making traditional foods," said Hung Le, owner of Kim Nhung Superstore in Kentwood, referring to Tet, or Vietnamese New Year.
Le said this season is a very busy time for his store, as customers come to buy gifts for loved ones, such as decorated gift baskets, candies, and delicacies such as Bahn Tet, sticky rice cakes with mung bean and pork filling wrapped in banana leaves.
Tteok Guk is a Korean soup made with rice cakes and dumplings, with the rice cakes sliced into long slices to symbolize living a long healthy life.
"Eating Tteok Guk means getting one year older in Korea, so we actually ask people like, 'did you have Tteok Guk yet? Which means, did you get one year older?'" said Mi Jung Matthysee of Korean Connection, who jokingly added that some people avoid eating Tteok Guk to avoid getting older.
Kaffeine Place in Grand Rapids is cooking Tteok Guk for customers for the month of February, fusing Korean traditions with fusion cuisine.
Liu said that in China, people travel hundreds of miles to their hometowns and visit their relatives, but in West Michigan, many are without their extended families. Instead, she said many members of the region's Chinese American community gather for an annual celebration, with traditional performances, firecrackers, and food.
Kim Nhung Superstore is also gearing up to host their own celebration in February with music, Lion Dancing and gifts for local children.
Friday night on the eve of the Lunar New Year, Korean Connection and Zeeland Christian Mandarin Immersion co-hosted a large event showcasing both Korean and Chinese traditions, welcoming the Korean Consular General from Chicago who also gave a speech at the event.
Before the event, Connie Busser of Korean Connection, said the event would embody the spirit of the holiday.
"Working with the Zeeland Christian Mandarin Immersion School here, the theme of this whole evening is different, but the same," said Busser. "People are are learning about other cultures and all of that fosters knowledge, fosters acceptance and understanding, and that's I think what it's all about."
Upcoming ways to enjoy the Lunar New Year:
Vietnamese Lunar New Year Celebration at Hong Kong Plaza, 4242 Division Ave S Kentwood – Hosted by Kim Nhung Superstore
- February 18, 12-5 p.m.
- Lion Dance, Fire crackers, face painting, prizes, Music and more
Kaffeine Place serving traditional Korean rice cake and dumpling soup until February 29
- Korean Fusion bar and restaurant
- 637 Michigan St NE Suite A, Grand Rapids
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