By ZHAOZHOU DAI

CV Journalism Collaborative

The Chinese New Year is here and many Asian Americans and others in California celebrate this festival annually.

The most common celebration in China and other Asian countries is also known as the Lunar New Year. It begins at the first new moon in the lunar calendar and ends at the first full moon about 15 days later. 

The beginning is called the Spring Festival. It is the grandest and most traditional Chinese festival, symbolizing unity and prosperity – marking a festive occasion to express hope for the future. Additionally, it symbolizes the arrival of spring.

The lunar calendar is based on the cycle of the moon, so the date of celebrating the Lunar New Year may change slightly every year. The 2024 Chinese New Year will last 16 days, starting on Feb. 10 and ending with the Lantern Festival on Feb. 24. 

This year, the Chinese zodiac animal is the dragon (2023 was the Year of the Rabbit).

Many counties in California’s Central Valley have sizable Asian populations who celebrate the Lunar New Year. For example, groups in Fresno, Stockton, Sacramento and other parts of the Central Valley are scheduled to conduct festivities.

According to 2020 data from the U.S. Census, Merced County has a considerable Asian population, making up around 8% of the total population. This suggests a significant and culturally diverse Asian community within the county. That is in contrast to the entire state of California, which is about 15.5% Asian.

Within Merced County, the most prominent Asian ethnic group is the Hmong community, followed by Chinese and Vietnamese populations. Japanese Americans also have roots in Merced County, with some traditions that still continue locally.  

“The impact of Chinese individuals on Merced County’s historical trajectory is indeed profound,” said Sarah Lim, a local history expert and director of the Merced County Courthouse Museum for more than 21 years.

Lim was born in Guangzhou, China and immigrated to the United States in 1990.

“In the second half of the 19th century, Merced had a very vibrant Chinese community where Chinese traditions were observed,” Lim said.

She said the old Chinese community was a place with families, businesses and temples.

“Although many people left and settled in major cities after the Gold Rush, some made a living in the small towns of the San Joaquin Valley,” Lim said. “These Chinese settlers are closely linked to the growth and development of Merced County’s economy.”

In the early 1860s, Chinese immigrants arrived in the region among early settlers seeking opportunities, according to Lim. A significant number engaged in mining activities. 

However, during the zenith of the Gold Rush, Chinese miners faced expulsion from the gold mines due to hostility and discriminatory mining laws.
During the late 19th century, a majority of Chinese immigrants were single men, whether married or unmarried, as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prohibited Chinese women from traveling abroad and restricted the entry of family members of Chinese immigrants into the United States.

These challenges led to what later became known as the “bachelor society.” In Snelling’s Chinatown, these individuals undertook various roles, including operating businesses and working as clerks, chefs, barbers, tailors and butchers within their community.

Based on available information and Lim’s description, the historical Chinatown was situated west of the town of Snelling and south of Lewis Street, which is currently Highway 59.

Presently, the site is an open area west of the Chevron service station. During its zenith, the Chinatown accommodated a population that varied between 300 and 1,000 residents, encompassing establishments such as shops, casinos, a temple, and an expansive vegetable garden.

Elderly residents fondly recall the Chinese community’s construction of a sizable corn warehouse for storing corn husks, facilitating the transportation of husks out of Snelling.

“The vibrant Chinatown that once flourished in Snelling had disappeared in the early 20th Century,” Lim said. “But the enduring contributions of the Chinese community, symbolized by their hard work and sacrifices, have seamlessly integrated into the fertile soil, becoming an integral and enduring aspect of the Merced River.”

“Chinese settlers recognized Snelling as an optimal location for agriculture,” Lim said. “Like other immigrants, agriculture was the predominant occupation for most Chinese immigrants, often originating from agricultural communities in China.”

Lim said that by transitioning from the mining areas in the foothills, Chinese immigrants secured employment as farmworkers, playing an essential role in the fields.

In addition to their contributions, such as harvesting berries at Montgomery Orchard, gathering corn at Dale ranch, and harvesting grains for William J. Ferrell along the Merced River, their presence in the fields was likened to being ‘as thick as bees.'”

According to Lim’s article, “Chinese Immigrants After the Gold Rush,” published in the Merced Sun-Star in 2016, Chinese settlers worked for white farmers and leased land along the Merced River to establish gardens.

The term “gardens” denotes smaller-scale agricultural enterprises, typically managed as family-run operations by Chinese farmers due to limited resources for hiring assistance.

The Chinese Zodiac

According to the traditional Chinese belief regarding the zodiac year 2024, the Year of the Dragon, is considered one’s “Ben Ming Nian”  – the year of the zodiac animal corresponding to one’s birth year.

The Chinese Zodiac is a traditional classification system based on the lunar calendar. It has a 12-year cyclic pattern, and each year is associated with a specific animal and its distinctive attributes.

In Chinese culture, the dragon enjoys a high reputation among the 12 zodiac animals. It symbolizes auspiciousness and imperial authority and represents dignity, health, honor, success, luck and power.

Other unique facts 

The terms Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year are interchangeable. Lunar New Year typically reflects the celebration of the festival in countries beyond China, such as Singapore, Korea and Vietnam.

Before contemporary times, many years ago the Spring Festival was rooted in early cultural beliefs and nature worship. It is believed that during those early traditions, sacrificial activities were conducted at the year’s onset to invoke abundant harvests and prosperity for people and livestock. 

These ritualistic practices transformed as time progressed, culminating in diverse celebratory events shaping the contemporary Spring Festival.

Today, during the Spring Festival, individuals from the Han Chinese majority and numerous ethnic minorities in China partake in various activities to commemorate the occasion.

Numerous countries observe the Spring Festival with unique customs. This period is marked by prayers for blessings in temples and active participation in various ancestral worship rituals.

In Singapore, the Lunar New Year celebration among Chinese communities involves traditions like hanging lanterns, eating rice cakes and performing dragon and lion dances. It also emphasizes the “Lo Hei Yu Sheng” tradition.

Indonesian families commence preparations for Buddha and ancestor worship in the early hours of New Year’s Eve. Following the reunion dinner, Indonesian Chinese families release sky lanterns to celebrate, symbolizing their wishes for good fortune and peace.

The Korean New Year, known as “Seollal,” shares numerous customs with the Chinese New Year. This festive period, especially for women, is characterized by extensive preparations of festive dishes and ritual items throughout the day.

The intricate process of ancestor worship involves adhering to strict protocols and specific table arrangements. After the eldest son represents the family in offering food at the ancestral altar, descendants perform a bowing ritual, expressing gratitude and seeking blessings for safety and health throughout the year.

On New Year’s Eve, Vietnamese families initiate the worship of deities and ancestors, followed by temple visits to burn incense. These rituals pray for peace, prosperity, and auspiciousness in the forthcoming year.

Thanks to a growing population of Asian immigrants, many of these traditions, both established and supplementary, have been disseminated to the United States and various other nations. 

Despite certain modifications to these traditions, the celebration of the Lunar New Year continues in these regions.

Lucky foods for Chinese New Year

The lucky foods for Chinese New Year vary across different regions and traditions, but some commonly considered auspicious foods include.

Fish (Yu): The Chinese word for fish sounds like the word for surplus or abundance. Eating fish during the New Year symbolizes a wish for a prosperous year ahead.

Dumplings (Jiaozi) resemble ancient Chinese money, and eating dumplings is thought to bring wealth and prosperity.

Spring Rolls (Chun Juan): Like dumplings, spring rolls symbolize wealth and prosperity due to their shape, resembling gold bars.

Sticky Rice Cakes (Nian Gao): This sticky rice cake symbolizes the promise of a higher income or position in the coming year.

Tangerines and Oranges (Chengzi; Juzi) symbolize wealth and good fortune. The words for tangerine and orange sound like “luck” and “wealth,” respectively.

Longevity Noodles (Changshou Mian): Eating long noodles is believed to bring a long and healthy life. It is customary not to cut or break the noodles, as it might symbolize cutting short one’s life.

Pomelo (Youzi): This large citrus fruit is associated with abundance, prosperity, and family unity.

— Jovi Zhaozhou Dai is a data reporter with The Center for Public Integrity in collaboration with the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative.