Oks the Year of the Ox, but not the year of the Ex!
On Feb. 12, Asia and the world welcomes the first day of the “Year of the Ox.” What does our future hold? How do we best celebrate it? Since we’re in the Philippines, I’ve suggested we could call it the “Year of the Carabao,” too!
Since I’m ethnic Chinese, and my bakery has started producing tikoy this year, I’ve recently been interviewed for PTV 4’s early-morning show Rise and Shine by journalist Gabriel Bayan, Q Radio 105.1 FM #QRush Hour program hosts Ysa Chong and Cholo de la Cruz, Radyo Pilipinas DZRB host Benedict Abaygar, and some foreign media about the Chinese New Year.
Let me share some of the questions I was asked, and my answers:
What will the world be like this “Year of the Ox”?
I started answering in Filipino: “Oks ang bagong taon daw, kasi mag-uumpisa na ang Year of the Ox!” (“The new year will be ‘okay,’ because it will be the start of the Year of the Ox!”) However, I added that it is the Ox Year, not Year of the Ex—so do not let your former girlfriend or former boyfriend woo you back again this year. Move on!
Seriously, this year does promise to be better, because Year of the Ox is traditionally regarded in the ancient Chinese zodiac, as well as cultures of Korea, Japan, Vietnam and other Asian societies, as positive, diligent, honest and energetic. Let us all work hard, be hopeful, help each other, pray often, be resilient and resourceful this new year.
There are high hopes for a better year economically due to the advent of various anti-COVID 19 vaccines from the UK, US, China, Russia, Israel and even Cuba. The United States and China are expected to end Trump’s chaotic trade war, while the 27-member European Union (EU) signed an investment agreement with China that is expected to boost Asian economic growth.
Year of the Ox is traditionally regarded in the ancient Chinese zodiac, as well as cultures of Korea, Japan, Vietnam and other Asian societies, as positive, diligent, honest and energetic.
Where is Chinese New Year celebrated?
Chinese Lunar New Year is celebrated worldwide, especially among the overseas ethnic Chinese diaspora from Singapore, San Francisco, Vancouver, New York to Berlin. In China, it is a one-week holiday called “Chun Jie” or the “Spring Festival.” The Korean people call this holiday “Seol,” the Vietnamese people call it “Tet,” and the Mongolian people call it “Tsagaan Sar.”
Why is the Chinese New Year different from the Western calendar? Why does the date change every year?
February 12 marks the year 4719 in the ancient Chinese lunar calendar. The Chinese New Year Day changes date each year in the Gregorian calendar that we use, because it follows the different lunar calendar and thus it falls on the new moon, usually a date between Jan. 21 to Feb. 21.
I explained that another holiday which follows the lunar cycle of the moon, thus changing date yearly on the Gregorian calendar, is Easter Sunday. The date of Easter Sunday falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox in March. The Jewish festival called Rosh Hashanah is also similar because it follows the lunar cycle.
Why do we give and eat lots of tikoy during this festival? What is its meaning and origins? What are some different ways to cook it?
Tikoy is the Filipinized name of the Chinese New Year dessert and favorite gift of ancient glutinous or sticky rice cake. It is called “ti-ke” in the Hokkien or south Fujian province language of Chinese migrants and traders, who came and brought tikoy tradition to the Philippines centuries ago. Ti-Ke in Hokkien literally means “sweet pastry or cake.” In Mandarin, this dessert is called “nian gao” meaning “year cake.”
Considered a good luck gift, its sticky texture symbolizes togetherness of family and friends, the round shape symbolizes wholeness and good fortune, while its sweet taste represents happiness.
Tikoy is usually cooked by cutting it into pieces, dipping these in scrambled eggs and then deep-frying. Our cooks at the 82-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café demonstrated before PTV 4 three different cooking methods: Tikoy Cheese Lumpia (cut pieces and cheese wrapped in lumpia wrappers and fried); Tikoy Spam (Japanese breading of tikoy pieces, with Spam slices wrapped in lumpia wrapper and fried); and Buchi Tikoy (cut tikoy pieces rolled into shape of balls, rolled in sesame seeds, then deep fried). There are many other delectable ways of cooking this Chinese dessert.
What are the ideal foods to eat on Chinese New Year’s Eve this February 11?
Apart from tikoy as a dessert, most ethnic Chinese worldwide eat a whole fish dish for good luck, noodles for long life, lumpia or spring rolls, dumplings and fruits.
How do ethnic Chinese and Asians worldwide celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year?
Families hold reunion dinners on Chinese New Year’s Eve. Adults give ang-pao (Hokkien for “red envelope”) with lucky money as gifts to children, young people and even elders. People clean up homes and offices. People go to temples to pray, while ethnic Chinese who are Christians like me also pray. Aside from hard work and resourcefulness, God is the source of ultimate good luck!
Why is red the favorite color during Chinese New Year?
Red has for thousands of years been the favorite color of Chinese civilization, symbolizing celebration of life and abundance. During Chinese New Year, ethnic Chinese wear new clothes usually colored red. People do not wear white or black during Chinese New Year, since white is a traditional Chinese color for mourning, while black is the Western color for mourning.
How do you greet people in the Chinese New Year?
The most popular, all-time favorite Chinese New Year greeting is “Kiong-Hee Huat-Chay” in Hokkien, while in Mandarin globally it is “Gong Xi Fa Chay.” Some businesses here in the Philippines mistakenly use “Kong Hei Fat Choy,” which is actually Cantonese language more used in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong province in southern China. It is globally popular due to the savvy marketing of the international tourism and financial hub of Hong Kong.
New York City-based, Malaysian-born, Singapore-raised and Australia-educated comedian Ronny Chieng said on a Netflix video: “Chinese people love money more than anyone. Chinese people love everything about it; we love making it, we love spending it, we love giving it, we love receiving it.” He explained that the greeting “Gong Xi Fa Chay” means “May you get rich.”
And with that greeting, may you enjoy good health, happiness and riches!