People of BNE: Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year is one of the most important times of the year for many Asian cultures. It's also one of the most wonderful times to visit places where the new year is celebrated. The streets are filled with festive decorations – mostly red and gold lanterns or decorations representing the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Bright, colourful lion dancers perform in the streets and shops, the pulsing beats and rhythms reverberating through the city well into the night. To top it all off, the tantalising smells of special meals float through the air, a promise of the feast to come when families and friends join together. 

This year’s Year of the Tiger festivities will see most Queenslanders who celebrate the Lunar New Year staying close to home, as border restrictions here and overseas still make it challenging to travel. 

We had a chat to several Brisbane Airport teams members to understand what the Lunar New Year means to them and how they will be celebrating.  

 

 
Chenlu Qian – Operational Performance Advisor, Aviation

The Lunar New Year means time with family and friends for Lu. It’s a tradition that takes her back to her roots and ancestry. What she loves most about this time of the year is the food, celebrations and festivities. 

“This year I will celebrate by having steamboat, calling my parents in Singapore and my extended family in China, staying up past midnight to ‘shou sui’ for my parents and will have a New Year gathering with friends here.”

Her dream would be to fly back to Singapore to spend the Lunar New Year with her family and friends. It’s been over 2 years since she’s seen them. 

 

Wells Chen – ICT End User Compute

For Wells, the Lunar New Year is a time for being with family, having a meal together and sharing special foods like Moon Cake. 

“My daughter is in Melbourne and my parents are in China, so we will celebrate the Year of the Tiger with a virtual family gathering online”. 

There’s nothing Wells would love more than to be celebrating in Shanghai with his parents who he hasn’t seen in many years.  

 

 

Fiona Lu – Commercial Finance Manager

Fiona loves the Lunar New Year as a time for family reunions and being spoiled by lots of beautiful food and gifts.  

“The Chinese word for “New Year” is “Nian” which refers to a Monster Dragon in the ancient stories. To celebrate New Year means to drive this “Nian” away by shooting off firecrackers and welcoming a prosperous and peaceful year to come.”

This year she will be making lots of traditional foods, like dumplings, to share with her friends.  

Like everyone, she wishes she could be celebrating in China with her parents. Her kids have grown up so much since they last saw them over two years ago and they would love to spend more time with their grandparents. 
 

Richard Yang – ICT System Administrator

Originally from Shanghai, Richard says the New Year is a time to be with friends and family, feasting at banquets and enjoying the firecrackers and decorations. 

“I love spoiling the kids with red packets (envelopes containing lucky money) and eating lots of food and alcohol without feeling guilty”

It would be fantastic if Richard could return to China to celebrate with his family, however whilst quarantine requirements are still in place in both countries, he reckons flying to Cairns for a relaxing break is the next best option… if not better! 

 

Lavender Shu – Marketing Specialist, China

The Lunar New Year is a nostalgic time for Lavender, who loves that it reminds her of many great childhood memories. It is the time of year when she feels most connected to her home country.

"Lunar New Year is a precious time for family gatherings and reunions – a fresh new start and setting up wishes and goals for the year to come.”

With two young children who have never been to China, Lavender would of course love to return to her home country to celebrate the New Year and introduce the kids to this traditional festivity. 

 

 

Derek Boo - Head of Asset Optimisation

For Derek, this event is about ushering in the New Year with good luck, good health and prosperity. 2022 will be the Year of the Tiger, an animal known for its courage and ambition. Derek loves getting together with his family and loved ones to celebrate with lots of delicious food. The whole family will wear something red for good luck, and the children will receive their red packets of money. 

“We always say 'Gong Hei Fat Choi' when we meet with friends, family and loved ones to wish them success and prosperity in the coming year”.

Derek would love to travel back to Singapore to celebrate with his extended family and is looking forward to the establishment of quarantine-free flights. In the meantime, he will most likely go to a Chinese restaurant in Brisbane for a family dinner and feast on Lou Yu Sheng, a Cantonese-Style raw fish salad that is popular in Singapore. 

 

 

Julie Leung – Digital Communications Advisor 

As an Aussie girl of mixed European ancestry, Julie didn’t grow up celebrating Lunar New Year. But after marrying into a family from Hong Kong, it is now one of the most important family events of the year. The Leungs celebrate by eating Chinese banquet, watching lion dancing and visiting the Chung Tian Buddhist Temple. 

“My son has his own lion dancing costume and drum that will be getting a work out in the next few weeks. Sorry neighbours!” 

The Lunar New Year is a special time for Julie and her kids to learn about Chinese culture and traditions. One day, Julie will take her children to Hong Kong to celebrate with extended family and to see the sights and sounds of the Lunar New Year festivities. 
 

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Where to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Brisbane 

• Lunar New Year, BrisAsia Festival - Fortitude Valley -  5th February 2022
• Chinese New Year Program - Chun Tian Temple - 31st January till 12th February 2022