By Jason Kaplan
New Year’s Day, according to the Gregorian calendar, has come and gone, but there’s still an opportunity to celebrate. The Chinese New Year begins Jan. 29 and to honor the occasion, Lydia Chan and James Jackson are inviting individuals to the first annual wok (pot) luck at 5:30 p.m. at Munger Cottage. Attendees are asked to bring an Asian dish, as well as their kids.
“It doesn’t have to be Asian authentic,” Chan said, “Asian fusion is also fine. The point is to bring people together, which is what Lunar New Year is all about.”
The Lunar New Year, which is typically celebrated in China and other Asian countries, begins on the first new moon of the year and lasts 15 days until the first full moon.
Recalling how her family celebrated growing up in Singapore, Chan said traditionally the first day of the new year is spent with family. A big meal is enjoyed similar to a Thanksgiving feast.
Businesses and schools are closed for two days, but celebrants may visit other relatives over the course of the two weeks. During that first dinner, everyone wears new clothes to ring in the new year. Extensive cleaning takes place to get rid of the dirt/bad luck from the previous year.
Children receive red packets containing a couple of dollars.
When Jackson approached his wife with the idea, the original plan was to host it at their home, but they quickly realized the space wouldn’t be large enough to host such an event. Jackson reached out to the Cornwall Recreation Department and with the help of assistant director Phylis Murphy, the celebration was moved to Munger Cottage.
When the announcement was made earlier this month, the response was overwhelming. Chan and Jackson capped it at 50 spots, but they quickly filled and then expanded it to allow 60 more guests. Chan is considering reaching out to Asian restaurants in the community and inviting them to attend or donate a dish or two if they are unable. She said it would be good publicity for them.
As to what dishes folks will be bringing, Chan said she won’t know until the day of the event. There will be activities during the two-hour celebration, but Chan said plans are still being formulated.
There will be a storytime where “Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas” will be read, something Chan recites to kids in her daughter’s class each year. A craft activity could entail something simple like creating paper lanterns. Finally, Chan plans to print out sheets explaining the traits of each of the animals in the Chinese zodiac: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. The year 2025 is the year of the snake.
This is the first year school districts are closed for the Chinese New Year due to a new state mandate, but Chan is hopeful this will become an annual event just based on the initial interest from the community.