From Chien-Chi, ex-teacher, and now volunteer advisor:
The idea of Chinese New Year in Taiwan is a lot like Christmas here in New Zealand- families gather together and share good meals as well as good time.
For me and my family, Chinese New Year is the best time for catching up with the extended family- every family member who lives in different parts of Taiwan would go down to Grandpa and Grandma’s in the south of Taiwan. We would spend at least 3 days there and do nothing but eat and hang out with the cousins.
The typical food we have on Chinese New Year’s Eve is “hotpot”, which requires people to sit in a big circle and surround this steaming pot which cooks all the yummy ingredients. Hotpot symbolises the fulfilment of the family and it creates heaps of chances for people around the table to mingle and talk about their life during the previous year.
Sometimes we would go visit old family friends to wish them good health and all the best for the new year.
Chinese New Year is definitely the best chance for us to have good quality family time!
Ni Hao Children's Community Mandarin Chinese Language Education Programme 