Chinese New Year - time to wear red, but how does this affect travellers, shoppers, organizers, members and all? Post 289

 Time to get out Chinese clothes for Chinese New Year.  The traditional dress for ladies is the cheongsam. If you don't have one, just wear red. The auspicious colour in the Orient is red.

Everywhere you will see decorations which make god backgrounds for a photo of you in your pretty clothes. You can also be photographed alongside lion dancers who perform in public places and special events.

Angela with the Chinese God of Wealth. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Chinese New Year 2024 starts on February 10th. But it continues. I used to think that this would not affect those who are not Chinese but it does in many ways. You need to think ahead.

Busy Buses, Flights, And Airports

Flights

1 Flights will be busy taking people overseas or within a coutnry to visit families. This means, seats at popular times and days could be unavailable, fully booked, double booked. 

Less choice of seating. 

Airport

Longer queues at airports to check-in. Longer queues for luggage. Longer queues for taxis. Expect lovely decorations at airports. Changi airport in Singapore is particularly good at decorations . While there is a delay for checkin, if you are in a queue, anybody left waiting may be able to take picture of the decorations or selfied with decorations. You may have to queue behind families with children to take a selfie with a giant display. Allow extra time for taking souvenir photos.

Shopping

Shops busy. Festive foods for the fish tossing ceremony, tossing ceremony called lo hei, sell out. If you go shopping really early in the monring at the start of Chineese New Year, you may be given goods or discounts.

Free Gifts

Some shops will give customers the traditional pair of Mandarin oranges, which are seasonl, like the Seville oranges which are now on sale in London where my family is making marmalade, the bitter tasting orange jam which wakes you up in the morning, and appeals to those who prefer spicy food, or savoury food, rather than sweet foods.

Busy aisles. Long queues to pay for goods.

Restaurants

Restaurants full. Restaurants serving festive Chinese meals which are more Expensive.

Online Messages

Your inbox will be full of new year greetings.  You must check carefully to find meetings. If you cannot travel or have travelled and have overseas friends, expect to get messages from friends and business. Sometimes you can forward a greeting which does not have a logo, as if it comes from you. If not, just add, I thought you would like to see this.

Meetings

Meetings will be cancelled because people are away from the office travelling. The office may be having staff dinners. 

Clubs

Consider a Chinese meal or Chinese theme. Your Chinese friends will appreciate this and could help. Look online for goods and allow time for delivery.

The Bad News

The bad news is queues. Some shops shut if staff are away travelling or celebrating. Shops stocks of Chinese goods running low, everything running low. 

The Good News

Prices of leftover festive foods are reduced after the festival ends. Clubs deliver goods, like Christmas presents, to members.

The Good News

Fabuouse decorations in Chinatowns worldwide. Decorations inside and outside Chinese restaurants.

What you should do

Book flights early. Arrive early at airports and venues. Allow extra time. Shop early to get free goods and empty shops on the first day of Chinese new year. Note closing times.

Look for Chinese goods reduced after the holidays. (And sometimes offers in advance or during the festival.) Send greetings to family and friends and colleagues and club members overseas. 

Look out festive clothes. Wear washable clothes, a washable wrap or scarf, or have some ready in case you attend a food tossing ceremony.

 Learn to say a Chinese greting to reciprocate, or add one to your email.

Chiense Destinations

China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore.  Chinatowns in the USA, Chinese restaurants in New York.  UK, London and Manchester, Canada, Vietnam, Cambodia. 

Chinese Foods

Chinese Decorations

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