Travel bans, lockdowns, border shutdowns, anxiety and panic. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the Lunar New Year plans for many Chinese-Australians in 2020.
One year on, not much has changed, as they are again celebrating the event in ways that are different to what they're used to.
Following traditional customs in Australia
Ivy migrated to Australia from Hong Kong with her husband, their eight-year-old son and five-year-old daughter, following the Lunar New Year in 2020.
She tells SBS Chinese that as this was her first Lunar New Year in Australia, she brought decorations with her from Hong Kong.
“Knowing it would be the last Lunar New Year we celebrate [before migrating to Australia] in Hong Kong last year, I bought more decorations.
Ivy's family offers New Year greetings with couplets. Source: Ivy
"I did not know if these things could be purchased here in Australia. I brought along the Lunar New Year candy box as well.”
Although her family members are based in Hong Kong, Ivy has worked hard to continue traditional Lunar New Year celebrations here in Australia.
For the event, she's prepared turnip cakes and New Year pudding (sticky rice cakes) for her children as these are their favourite dishes from back home and has also prepared a Hong Kong traditional New Year’s Eve dinner.
Traditional ornaments for the occasion. Source: Ivy
From New Year’s Day, Ivy will take her children to experience New Year celebrations by going to yum cha and sending greetings to relatives and friends.
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, also known as the “Quarrel Day”, Ivy will follow the Hong Kong tradition to take part in outdoor activities.
Ivy's New Year's Eve family dinner in Hong Kong in 2020. Source: Ivy
Ivy made some New Years decorations by herself. Source: Ivy
In Hong Kong, people will go to temples or participate in specific outdoor activities on that day.
Dr Lennon Yao-Chung Chang is a senior lecturer in criminology in the School of Social Sciences at Monash University.
He says he would normally fly back to Taiwan to spend Lunar New Year with his family. Unable to do so this year, he says he "really misses" his grandmother who is over 100 years old.
In Chinese tradition, red envelopes symbolise good luck from the sender.
Lennon Chang giving a red envelope with money to his grandmother last year. Source: Lennon Chang
Chinese people usually give red envelopes with money to young and old family members during Lunar New Year.
Dr Chang says he misses this aspect the most.
“Giving away red envelopes with money is a traditional custom for us, I would be so blessed when I see the receiver's smile on their faces, and I love to wish them a healthy and sound new year.”
Lennon Chang gives away red envelopes every year, and misses this aspect the most. Source: Lennon Chang
This year, Dr Chang prepared Lunar New Year Eve dishes such as Shouxing chicken in wine, Peking duck and hotpot, and also encourages people to take advantage of the festivities in Australia by sourcing local ingredients such as lobster, cherries and red wine.
Dr Zhangxin Liu is a senior lecturer of finance at the University of Western Australia's (UWA) Business School.
Lennon Chang's usual Lunar New Year Eve family dinner in Taiwan. Source: Lennon Chang
He tells SBS Chinese that in years gone by, he would spend Lunar New Year with friends in Western Australia, try new recipes and host fun activities.
However, he has been stuck in Wuhan since last February, unable to return to Australia due to border restrictions.
Dr Liu has spent the whole year in Wuhan, China. Source: Frank Liu
He had traveled back to his hometown to celebrate Lunar New Year in 2020.
Vivian He works as a gym salesperson in Melbourne, and arrived in Australia as an international student before completing her postgraduate studies at the University of Melbourne in 2019.
Just like Dr Liu, He also hails from Hubei Province in China. She says that since the first COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, many of her family members and friends have been severely impacted.
For international students like Vivian He, heading back to China during the summer break for Lunar New Year is a common occurrence.
Chinese international student Vivian He enjoys her life in Melbourne. Source: Vivian He
But in late 2019, she made the decision not to visit China and instead opted to remain in Melbourne to discover career options.
“Last year I decided not to go home and celebrate Lunar New Year with my family, but this year I could not head home because of the pandemic," she says.
This year, she's celebrating Lunar New Year in a more traditional way, by making dumplings and watching China Central Television’s Spring Festival Gala Evening on television.
Her decision to celebrate with traditional elements was inspired by a street artist in Melbourne.
“One day I passed by this artist painting an Ox on the wall of a shopping mall in the Melbourne CBD, I was very curious so I started a conversation.
Vivian He found this art piece of an Ox, which reminds her of traditional Lunar New Year celebrations. Source: Vivian He
"The artist told me his family is from Shanghai but he never had a chance to visit there in person. By painting this Ox, this artist wants to show his identity of being a part of the Chinese Australian community.”
Vivian He's Lunar New Year Eve family dinner in China. Source: Vivian He
Utilising technologies to build relationships
Technologies have played a key part in Lunar New Year celebrations as many Chinese Australians could not reunite with their families this year.
Ivy and Dr Chang both mentioned they were staying connected with family members via video calls.
Dr Liu adds that giving away red envelopes virtually on WeChat, a popular Chinese social media platform, has been a new trend over recent years.
While many rely on technologies to connect and build relationships with families remotely during Lunar New Year, Peter Wan, a recent graduate from University of Melbourne, uses technology differently.
The 24-year-old international student comes from the Fujian Province, which is on the southeastern coast of China.
“Everyone has different thoughts on Lunar New Year such as how they love to celebrate it. We shall respect people’s preference and make sure that everyone is comfortable with their celebration.”
Peter Wan's Lunar New Year Eve family dinner in China. Source: Peter Wan
In November 2019, he traveled back home along with many Chinese International students, but he decided to return to Melbourne a month later, rather than staying in his hometown until February.
This year, he's planning to chat with family and friends via video during the period.
Peter Wan sends messages on WeChat to his family and friends on Lunar New Year Eve. Source: Peter Wan
A community of international students
While Mr Wan prefers to celebrate Lunar New Year alone, other Chinese students are planning to celebrate together.
Jessie Xie is UWA student who returned to Australia last year via a third country, as people from China were among the first to be put on the banned list into the country, due to the pandemic.
Xie says although she could not celebrate Lunar New Year with her family this year, she invited other international students to cook dumplings on Lunar New Year Eve.
Chinese international student Jessie Xie much spent time and effort trying to get back to Australia in early 2020. Source: Jessie Xie
To make international students feel welcome during this difficult period, the Adelaide Festival Centre has worked with free-to-air community television station Channel 44 to produce a program called Students Got Talent, which will air on February 13.
The show will feature performances from 11 finalists, among them are international students from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, India, Iran, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Adelaide comedian Jason Chong will be host the show.
Meanwhile in Wuhan
Since Lunar New Year in 2020, Dr Liu has been stuck in Wuhan.
This year, he's planning to change it up by traveling to another city to visit family members from his wife’s side.
“Last March in Wuhan, I was so depressed as I thought life would never go back to normal. As the lockdown restrictions lifted in April, I suddenly realised that ‘these normal days’ were so precious and I treasure them a lot.”
Dr Liu says life in Wuhan is gradually getting back to normal, and people are more aware of public health protocols such as wearing masks, keeping social distanced and regularly washing hands.
Dr Liu teaches at Shandong University. Source: Frank Liu
He says the local government is encouraging people to "stay wherever you are" to celebrate Lunar New Year this year.
While these recommendations are not mandatory, he's noticed that many locals are following the advice.
“Train stations and airports are relatively quiet compared with the past times, also I do not see people sharing their travel pictures on the feed of WeChat anymore.”
