New Year's Eve

 New Year's Eve is a special time for us. We make sure the house is in pristine shape, make sure all the clothes are nice and neat, sheets are folded, beds are made etc.  Then its preparation time for the meal.  We always have a hot pot with various meats, fish, and vegetable. Hot Pot is a dish where all the food is served raw and a large pot with boiling water is in the middle and you can cook all the food as you eat. This is something we do twice a year, once on new year and once on Chinese New Year.





Just as the clock strikes midnight all the lights switch on and we shake tin cans (ie. Mooncake containers or Danish butter cookie containers) filled with coins. These coins aren't just dimes and pennies, these are gold-colored, discontinued one dollar coins. Anything thats gold colored and shiny represent wealth and prosperity.  Each evenly distributed for each family member to shake. I once asked "Mom whats with the coins?" She said she learned this tradition in Hong Kong back in the 80s. Evil spirits dwell within the house from the previous year, a lot like dust in the attic. Its our duty to clean it every year in order to bring good luck to the house. The Chinese are very superstitious and we care about good fortune. The loud noise from the coins inside the cans scare the spirits out and cleanse the house. I  love to make noise and this was a perfect excuse to make some.  At the end of each run the cans have dents as if they've been kicked around like a soccer ball. We would always compare dents to see who shook harder. This tradition has helped my family strengthened bonds with one another, celebrate the New Year and MAKE SOME NOISE.









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