Celebrating Chinese New Year Twice in a Day

We didn't actually do much to celebrate Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day on the actual day except had this combined game with most people at church where groups of people had to pop balloons to find a Bible verse and then give it to one of the team members to write it with one of those Chinese ink pens. My group sent me up, even though I had no idea what was going on since I couldn't understand Chinese! I think most of them were chicken to go up! When the game finally started, I had to find the Bible verse in the Bible and I was looking at the front of the Bible but the rest of the group got frustrated at how long it too me to find it so they took over! Our church also had a shared lunch to celebrate Chinese New Year though.

We also did attend two Chinese New Year Festivals the day before on Saturday. It was good to finally get out of the house after spending most of the week at home doing little more than washing the house a few times!

I always enjoy these festivals as the crowds, stalls, food and the entertainment always makes me feel a whole lot more Asian! 

The first festival we attended was at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane. This was the larger of the two festivals as there were plenty of stalls and a lot more space. We didn't get there till midday as our parents had to sort something out before then.

I don't know if it's true but it did feel a little like there were fewer stalls or there was slightly more space at this year's festival compared to last year's festival. That may have something to do though with the two Chinese New Year festivals being held on the same day this year. 

 

Nonetheless, there was still quite a lot on offer. Everyone was trying to give us all their rubbish...I mean flyers and pamphlets...while there were some stalls giving away free pens, calendars, etc. While there were a lot of food stalls, I was more interested in those stalls selling gifts and those little toys!

National MP and Ethnic Affairs Minister Pansy Wong was walking around and we happened to cross paths! We even managed to get a family photo together with her!

 

After checking out most of the stalls, we decided to take a rest by watching some of the performances. There was a group of acrobats performing. One girl managed to balance all these candles on her, while a group of guys did some juggling and some tricks with hats! 

 

There was half an hour left and so Hamish and I decided to check out the stalls one more time before the festival finished. We came across a stall selling old coins and notes from around the world and from different time periods, and they were quite cheap! We tried looking for a note with the highest value, and came across an old Argentinean note worth 500,000 pesos, so Hamish paid $3.50 for it. Now he's a half-millionaire!

We then drove all the way across Auckland over to the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau where another Chinese New Year Festival was being held! This time they made a lot of the space on the huge field nearby available for car parks, despite the ground being very bumpy. We ended up parking all the way at the opposite end, which meant a long walk!

There were a lot of food stalls outside, while inside the building were plenty of stalls. The space was smaller though so it was quite crowded. There were some stalls selling some interesting stuff. One stall sold bouquets, only they weren't of flowers but of soft toys! There was another stall selling really plush reclining chairs, and one selling electric toilet seats! 

 

We also came across Pansy Wong's stall and Pansy Wong approached us to talk to us. She obviously didn't remember us from earlier in the day! She asked my brothers and I what each one of us were studying and it went something like this...

"Pharmacy"

"Oh you'll have no problem getting a job!"

"Commerce"

"Oooh.....that may be difficult..."

"Engineering"

"You'll have no problem finding a job either!"

We did buy a few things. My mum bought me some traditional Chinese clothes! I don't know when or where I'll wear it but at least I have the option if I ever want to look more Chinese! My mum also bought a Chinese hat for one of us to wear at our cousin's upcoming wedding (they want traditional clothes worn!). 

 

We checked out all the stalls by 8pm and we were going to stay at the festival till the fireworks and the end (which was going to be at 10pm) so we had nothing much to do for another two hours! We went back outside to check out the food and had a little feed before going back inside to have a look at the stalls for a little longer before the fireworks. Grace, her brother Sam and their parents just arrived and we bumped into them inside!

 

As the festival began to finish, my brothers and my dad found a spot outside to sit and watch the fireworks while my mum and I made a last minute ditch to buy a Chinese hat at my dad's request. When we got back, Grace and her family were there with the rest of my family and so we all watched the fireworks together. The fireworks were pretty good, albeit a little sporadic!

 

As soon as the fireworks were over we raced to our car to try get out of the carpark quick and avoid the inevitable traffic jam that usually occurs at the end of this festival every year. However, we weren't early enough and got stuck for almost an hour just trying to get out of the carpark! I was surprised there was no people directing traffic! It was anarchy...almost! 

We ended up getting home about two hours after we left the festival, but just in time to welcome in the new Chinese New Year!