Tea, Tradition, and Technology: Let’s Talk Lunar New Year
As January stretches on and we all begin to question whether resolutions were ever a good idea, the world turns its attention to another New Year – one that comes with centuries of tradition, vibrant celebrations, and enough dumplings to make any gym membership irrelevant.
Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, is a time of family, friends and reflection.
Here at CoolLED, we like to embrace traditions from around the world, especially when they bring people together and teach us something new.
And who better to guide us through the festivities than our very own Bruce Chen?
Bruce is not only a key part of the CoolLED Sales team, he also knows the ins and outs of celebrating Chinese New Year in style.
Can you tell us about your favourite Chinese New Year traditions and how you celebrate with your family or friends?
There are many Chinese traditions for New Year’s, such as cleaning the house, preparing New Year foods, having a reunion dinner with the extended family, giving red envelopes to kids, decorating the house with red, and setting off fireworks and firecrackers. In some rural areas, there are also dragon and lion dances.
For me, the best part is the fireworks and firecrackers because they bring a festive vibe, especially in my childhood. It’s a happy time and creates lifelong memories.
The Year of the Snake symbolises Transformation, Wisdom, Financial success and Stability. Do you have any exciting plans, either personal or professionally, for this year?
The Year of the Snake indeed represents many positive qualities, such as transformation, good luck, and stability in both family and professional careers. As for me, I don’t have any special plans since it’s not my zodiac sign, I’m a Rooster! However, with the new year approaching, everyone tends to make new plans and resolutions.
I hope everything goes well in this new year, that all my family members stay healthy, and that all my friends remain happy and lucky in the Year of the Snake.
What’s your favourite dish from a traditional Chinese New Year’s Eve feast, and why is it significant?
One of the most beloved dishes for me during a traditional Chinese New Year’s Eve feast is dumplings (饺子). Dumplings are especially popular across China, where they symbolize wealth and prosperity. For me, they also bring a lot of happy memories.
I can still vividly remember how joyful it was to prepare dumplings with my family on New Year’s Eve when I was a kid, and I would love to pass this tradition on to my kids.
If you could introduce one Chinese New Year tradition or value to the CoolLED team, what would it be and why?
For most Chinese people, Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions, but it also serves as a moment of reflection and renewal, no matter how difficult the past year may have been. During the New Year, family members come together, take a pause, make good wish to each other, and make new plans. It is a time to reset. Pausing, reflecting, and recharging spiritually are crucial values for any team. Inevitably, the businesses face challenges, but we should always remain optimistic and move forward.
What’s one thing you’d love for your colleagues at CoolLED to understand or experience about Chinese culture?
I’d love to share with my colleagues at CoolLED about the Chinese zodiac. Each year is associated with one of the 12 animals, and people born in that year are believed to share traits of the animal. I’m sure my colleagues would enjoy discovering their zodiac sign and learning about its personality traits.
If you could send one CoolLED product to a famous historical figure in Chinese history, who would it be and why?
If I could send a CoolLED product to a famous historical figure in Chinese history, I would choose Zhang Heng, the renowned scientist and inventor from the Han Dynasty. Known for his groundbreaking work in seismology, astronomy, and hydraulics. He invented the world’s first seismoscope, which was groundbreaking for its time.
A CoolLED product, such as a high-performance LED light source for microscopy, would perfectly align with Zhang Heng’s innovative spirit and his dedication to advancing scientific discovery.
Which CoolLED team member do you think would be the best at performing a Dragon Dance, and why?
Since the Dragon Dance is physically demanding and requires skill, I think Greg* would be a great option.
He looks strong, flexible, and exercises a lot, so I trust he would perform the Dragon Dance very well if he spent some time practicing.
*(Business Development Manager, Greg Perry)
Do you have a message or wish for your colleagues or our customers as we head into the Chinese New Year?
As we head into the Year of the Snake, I would like to wish all my colleagues and customers a prosperous, successful, and joyful year ahead. May this year bring new opportunities, growth, and stability, just like the symbolic qualities of the Snake.
Let’s continue to work together with wisdom, resilience, and optimism to achieve great things! Happy Chinese New Year!
