Lengthy Chinese New Year celebrations start this weekend

Connie Kum and her husband John will celebrate the Chinese New Year on Sunday, January 29. Picture / Richard Robinson

Next Sunday, Epsom's John Kum will do his best not to break his noodles as he's eating them. On most other days he wouldn't think twice about it.

Why? On the first day of the Chinese New Year, this year the year of the dog, and on other auspicious occasions such as birthdays, noodles symbolise longevity and cutting them short the opposite. Likewise, Mr Kum will do his best not to use scissors - their blades are thought to sever the threads of good fortune.

Mr Kum will also avoid housework, especially sweeping - not that he's domestically challenged, he says. Many Chinese believe that using a broom will wash away good luck - many won't wash their hair on that day for the same reason.

Mr Kum will also steer clear of swearing, speaking ill of anyone, and uttering the Chinese word for the numeral four - it sounds like the word for "death".

Mr Kum's parents raised their seven children to be mindful of these beliefs. He says that while some cultural traditions would seem to be rooted in common sense - like minding your language at a family time - some just are: analysis is not required.

"I wouldn't say I am not superstitious," he says, "but then again, there's a lot of things that can't be explained ... "

Mr Kum, who sells nutritional supplements, and his teacher wife Connie, 62, are both New Zealand-born and bred, with Kiwi accents and the same Epsom address since 1971.

Their mothers both came to New Zealand as World War II refugees from Guangzhou in southern China, their husbands joining them here.

The pair, who speak Cantonese, see themselves as New Zealand Chinese - not Chinese New Zealanders - and say the benefit of having a foot in both camps is that they can pick the best of both cultures. And one of the best events in Chinese culture, says Mrs Kum, is New Year, a time of family, frivolity and faith in good times to come.

All Chinese festivals are determined by the lunar calendar; Sunday, January 29, is the first day of the first lunar month, sparking festivities until the closing Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

The event has been marked for more than 3000 years - longer than Christmas - and in China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and some parts of Malaysia, is the year's major public holiday. Like New Zealand in January, everything stops while the population goes on holiday.

The celebrations proper start in Auckland today.

The Kums, both active members of the Auckland Chinese Community Centre, have helped to organise its annual festival at Auckland Showgrounds.

The free festival is open to all, says Kai Luey, national president of the New Zealand Chinese Association.

What's on
* Jan 21: New Year Festival, Auckland Showgrounds, Greenlane Rd West, 10am-3pm. Free, parking available. Dragon dance at 10am, concerts, arts, crafts and food.

* Jan 28: Multicultural Festival and Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration Concert, Aotea Centre, 3pm. Free, but tickets needed. Phone Joe Yu on 573-5127.

* Feb 10-12, Lantern Festival, Albert Park, 5pm-10.30pm, free.