Chinese community shares Lunar New Year customs

Bristol's Chinese community has been welcoming in the Lunar New Year by sharing family traditions.

Celebrations started on 29 January to coincide with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and will last for about 15 days.

In Bristol, as elsewhere in the UK, families come together for traditional music, food and dance.

"There is a real appetite for culture, for other people's cultures, for appreciating each other and our differences," said Joe-Wah Chow, whose family hosts one of the biggest Lunar New Year celebrations in the South West each year at the family supermarket in Eastville.

Each year takes its name from one of 12 Chinese zodiac animals - 2025 is the year of the snake.

"New year is our biggest celebration, the equivalent of Christmas in the UK," said Joe-Wah.

"In China, and throughout Asia, places will shut down and it's a great big holiday.

"Everyone goes home, sees family and eats lots of food.

"There are two really important meals. One is at the tail end of the old year, called the reunion dinner, where we all come together as a family unit.

"The other important meal is at the opening of the new year, so you're seeing the year in, again, as a family," she said.

Joe-Wah's mother, Allison Chow, has been in the UK for 58 years but still upholds many ancient Chinese traditions.

"The Chinese believe that on the first day of the new year you do not kill, so there's no meat on the table," she said.

"I learned to cook the Buddha dishes like mixed vegetables, fungi or a special dish called lo han chai.

"We also have a cake, tangyuan, made with glutinous rice and sugar, shaped in round balls which means that you're rounding up the family," she said.

Children enjoy receiving red envelopes filled with money.

Traditionally, some tasks are avoided, such as sweeping the floor and washing or cutting hair - in order to avoid cleaning good luck away.

"I think in modern times you might see some people stepping away from these kind of things," said Joe-Wah.

"It's very traditional but certainly it is widely believed and adhered to within the Chinese community."

The two women help to host a community event at Wai Yee Hong - a Chinese supermarket on Eastgate Road in Bristol.

The event attracts hundreds of people every year.

"The reason we have the lion dance is to bless our business for the coming year and to scare away any demons and bring us good luck and prosperity," said Joe-Wah.

"We're not gatekeepers to it. We just want to share the fun and culture.

"It teaches the younger generation. It's important for their identity."

The Lunar New Year event is taking place at Wai Yee Hong supermarket on 1 February to raise money for The Grand Appeal.

An alternative celebration is being held at Bristol Museum on 8-9 February.

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