Chinese New Year preparations are underway throughout the Bay Area, including in Oakland where families last week were out shopping for new clothes, flowers and food to welcome in the Year of the Tiger.
Angel Chin, an Oakland native who studies business at San Jose State, helped her mom at a floral shop in the city, wrapping up bright red long gladiolas for masked customers buying bunches to decorate their homes.
She told KCBS Radio this year's celebration will be better than last, which was heavily impacted by COVID-19, specifically business sales.
Chin explained that this year's preparations have been underway for a while now.
"People start buying new years stuff already like a month before, or a few weeks, and then Chinese New Year will last two weeks from when it starts," she said.
A major part of the Lunar New Year celebration is when red envelopes are filled with crisp dollar bills and shared as part of the "good fortune" wishes that families give each other, especially the kids.
"When I was a kid at least, I was always excited about collecting the red envelopes," Chin said. "You know, the money wasn’t the issue. It was just a token of joy."
Chin said that above all else, celebrating with family is what matters most this time of year.
"No matter what you're eating, or where, either at home or at a restaurant, as long as you're together, that’s the most important part," she explained.
Related
