Alba Kong, born 1996 (Fire Rat)
Guangzhou

This is Alba Kong’s first Chinese New Year since taking a job in Hong Kong, which means she won’t have as much time to spend at home in Guangzhou with her family. ‘As I have a much shorter Chinese New Year holiday, I need to try and spend more time at home with my parents.’

‘My grandpa passed away a few months ago, so for my grandma it’s really important that her family is by her side,’ she says. Flowers are a must: ‘Ever since I can remember, Chinese New Year has come with peach blossoms, representing a prosperous year to come. My dad spends a whole day picking flowers from the market and arranging them at home, after which my mum and I decorate them – kind of like Christmas, you could say.

‘When I was a little kid, Chinese New Year meant a big meal and pocket money; when I was in middle school it meant a break from the textbooks; and now it means family,’ says Kong. ‘The meaning of festivals is given by those important people in your life, and nothing is more wonderful than celebrating with them.’

Peter Wong, born 1972 (Water Rat)
San Francisco

‘The Chinese New Year atmosphere in the US isn’t that strong even if you live in the heart of San Francisco,’ says Peter Wong. But he does try to keep some traditions alive. ‘With no extra holidays for adults or kids, arranging gatherings and dinner events is the only way we can carry on some basic traditions for the kids, and hope that they will pass this on to the next generation.’

Typically, the Wong family has a New Year’s Eve dinner with the grandparents. Then on the weekend, they’ll host bigger gatherings, or take the kids to Chinatown to see the Chinese Community Street Fair, an annual event with hundreds of booths and entertainment. ‘With our relatives, we cook at home, order take-out or do a potluck. The kids will hang out and play and then the adults will have them say new year’s blessings, and we give them lai see.’ While it isn’t always easy for members of the Chinese diaspora to stay in touch with their culture, Wong’s family has one unique way of doing it: ‘After dinner, we play family games – which we’ve copied from game shows that air in Hong Kong.’