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Celebrating Lunar New Year 2023 at Moorhouse
On Sunday 22nd January, many cultures around the world will celebrate the Lunar New Year.
This traditional holiday is celebrated in many ways across the globe, from traditional foods to various customs and practices. We spoke to some of our Moorhouse colleagues to find out how they will mark the occasion.
How will you celebrate the Lunar New Year 2023?
Sean Tuffy, Senior Consultant
“Celebrating the Lunar New Year has been a big thing in my family for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, I would proudly boast about being born in the year of the Rat and how this made me quicker and smarter than my friends born in other years. Nowadays, it’s all about food, family, and food… and more food! But I still find it fascinating to reflect on the deeper-rooted traditions and beliefs that come with this time of year.
My family’s background is a bit of a melting pot of anything and everything, but the Asian persuasion, specifically Malaysian persuasion, comes through my Mum’s side. Malaysia is a country where a quarter of the population are of Chinese descent, so the Lunar New Year is one of the biggest holidays.
We always have a large family reunion dinner on the eve of the New Year. Typical dishes include yee sang (a type of tossed salad), noodles (which represent long life due to their length), and whole fishes with head and tail still attached (a symbol of wealth and prosperity). A spring clean of the house is a must to enter the new year with all bad luck brushed away, fireworks and dragon dances line the streets, and ang pau (red envelopes containing money) are given out to children and younger relatives. It’s a lively and colourful time of year to get together with family and friends and wish them Gong Xi Fa Cai (Happy New Year)!”
Dain Son Robinson, Consultant
“Lunar New Year is a time for me, as a Korean American living in the UK, to reconnect with family and make comfort food that brings back childhood memories. As a cultural nomad, I don’t have a strong sense of belonging across my nationalities, but my South Korean parents instilled in me an identity and pride as a Korean. Eating Korean food at home always made me feel warm and safe. So, like many people living away from their home countries, I miss Korean food the most. The Lunar New Year is a great excuse for me to make a big batch of Korean dumplings alone, reminiscing about happy memories with my grandma, mom and sister.
As the Lunar New Year approaches, many of us look forward to celebrating with loved ones and indulging in traditional foods. But for me, the holiday takes on a different meaning. For years, I’ve kept my celebrations low-key, even feeling a sense of embarrassment about my cultural heritage. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve become more confident in embracing my Korean identity. I am proud of being Korean and the unique attributes it brings
One of the things that makes me most proud to be Korean is the delicious food. From savoury dumplings to hearty soups, Korean cuisine is a treat for the senses. But don’t just take my word for it. If you haven’t had the pleasure of trying Korean food yet, you’re seriously missing out!”
