Greetings for the New Year
Pinoy-Style Lunar New Year 2023
Is it just me or is the Lunar New Year extra big this year across the globe? Not too long ago, there’d only be some passing acknowledgment that it was Chinese New Year or Vietnamese TET, and celebrations were limited to local communities. These days, it looks like the Lunar New Year is hitting the mainstream in the U.S. and before long I’m afraid it will turn into one of those commercialized-excuses-for-excessive-drinking holidays. Swap Cinco de Mayo’s tequila with insert-Asian-alcoholic-beverage of choice and you’ve got another culturally appropriated holiday! ‘murica!
Ok, so why am I talking about the New Year? One, because it’s this weekend, and two, because I haven’t greeted y’all a Happy New Year! This Year of the Water Rabbit is projected to be a Year of HOPE.
Growing up in Manila, I don’t recall any big Chinese New Year celebrations, except like if you visited Binondo, a district in Manila known as the Philippines’ Chinatown. Or as in our case, you have family members of Chinese descent. All I remember about Chinese New Year (and I know now it is more correct to say Lunar New Year because many other Asian cultures celebrate the New Year too, but really in the Philippines, it WAS Chinese New Year - not Tet or Seollal) - were the yummy tikoy (Nian gao), the lucky red envelopes filled with cash (hóngbāo), having to wear red for good luck, and saying Kung Hei Fat Choy (gōng xǐ fā cái) (Cantonese) Note: Many Filipino-Chinese speak Cantonese and Fookien/Philippine Hokkien at home, rather than Mandarin, which some of them learn more formally at Filipino-Chinese schools.
Here’s a cool Instagram Post from SoCal Filipinos about How Filipinos Celebrate the Lunar New Year.
How will YOU celebrate?
Me? I’ll probably check out one of the many Asian-American celebrations in town, eat some dumplings and noodles and tikoy (if I can find it)… oh and I’ll probably be posting something new here on the Jam.
Wait, what…. yes, this whole post has been a roundabout way of welcoming you to our first post of 2023 for FilAm Jam! FilAm - what-now….
Welcome to FilAm Jam. Our aim is to share stories that help amplify, inspire and empower our Filipino-American community. We want to bring together generations through art, music, food, film, and literature while recognizing our shared Philippine roots.
Through The FilAm Jam newsletter, we hope to share our unique personal experiences and reflections as Filipinos in America and Filipino-Americans in the diaspora.
Want to contribute? Pitch us a story via email filamjam[at]yahoo.com. FYI, we want to share stories that are not usually covered by mainstream outlets - for example, we would rather feature a fringe artist over a big star, and we would rather publish articles about the quiet heroes who make a difference in the community rather than those who are already recognized in traditional publications. We also want to share with the larger community all the cool things that Filipinos and those with Filipino roots are doing in the arts as well as in non-profits and mental health spaces.
Great write up ! I dig that socalfilipinos post - didn't know of the word angpao until now. Giving money to my youger cousins is something my dad's side does - now that I'm out of college and considered an elder cousin now 😓
I surmise the increased awareness for Lunar New Year comes from the last few years of support for Asian Americans (and consequentially the trendy consumption and capitalization off the culture as well). Here's to the year ahead !