Chinese New Year, better known as the Spring Festival, is a reminder that Mauritians of Chinese ancestry remain close to their roots. The festivities are a mixture of spectacle and timeless rituals, of public displays of faith and private expressions of ties that bind the family.
Mauritius has a love affair with firecrackers and fireworks. For that, we should blame, or thank, the Chinese who first immigrated to the island a few centuries back. On February 5, the ancestral tradition goes back to its primary expression as Mauritians of Chinese ancestry usher in the New Year by scaring off the demons of the past.
China Town, in Port-Louis, is the place to be to get a full grasp of the festivities. Everything is dressed up in red, a traditional symbol of happiness in Chinese society. Every street sees a parade, spectacle or martial arts display. Lions and dragons, albeit with very human legs, dance in the streets to the rhythmic sound of drums.
Mauritians of Chinese ancestry wake up early to head out to the pagodas around the island to make offerings and to honour their ancestors. Families then gather around a hearty meal of traditional dishes. Cakes are distributed. The usual fare is made up of the famous ‘gato la cire’ or ‘nian gao’ made from rice flour, ‘chipek’, a kind of deep fried crackers, sweet potato cakes and ‘gato cravate’, with its distinctive bow tie shape.
Another must give is the ‘Foon Pao’. The red envelope containing an even numbered sum of money is handed out to family members to keep them from coming to harm during the year ahead.
For the community, it is important to respect the traditions. Jean-Paul Lam, president of the New Chinatown Foundation, says, “Spring Festival is synonymous with renewal. The objective is to allow the community as a whole, all Mauritians and tourists included, to benefit from it.”
For more information, take a look at the Facebook page of New Chinatown Foundation.
You’ll Love the Year of the Pig!
Earth Pig Year starts on February 5, 2019, which corresponds to year 4717 of the traditional Chinese calendar. It follows the year of the Earth Dog, which began on February 16, 2018, and precedes the year of the Metal Rat, which will begin on January 24, 2020. The 12th and final sign of the Chinese Zodiac, the Pig marks the end of a cycle. It’s a time of assessment, as you move on from one thing to go towards another. The Chinese believe years falling under the Earth Pig sign are fruitful in all areas. They coincide with periods of development, success, satisfaction, consolidation of values, joy and imagination. Like we said, you’ll love the Year of the Pig!
