Lunar New Year: in South Korea, tradition fades for ageing Chinese community, but red envelopes will never die
- The dwindling, ageing population of huaqiao in Korea fear the end of the ‘good old days’
- A new generation appears less interested in Lunar New Year traditions – until it comes to cash-filled red envelopes that is
Ageing huaqiao are nostalgic for the “good old days” when everyone in the Chinese community would put on new clothes and shoes, gorge on specially prepared cuisine and receive “hongbao” red envelopes containing cash. Now only the old and faithful keep such traditions alive.
“I am afraid we will be the last generation to bother with jesa [the rituals of ancestor reverence] for New Year’s Day and other occasions”, says Li Pao-li, the president of the Chinese Residents’ Association.
On lunar New Year’s Day, which falls on Saturday, Li will attend a ritual of ancestor reverence at his cousin’s home, to honour his own family, before moving on to other rituals across Seoul to pay his respects to others in the community.
The rituals are to seek blessings from both ancestors and deities, including Guan Yu, the guardian deity for merchants, he says. Li, 65, is hoping for good business this year.