Lunar New Year in a Pandemic by Debbie Lum from Denville Mathnasium

These are my thoughts as a first generation Asian American born in NYC to loving immigrant parents from Hong Kong and China. Traditions can vary from province to province, country to country, family to family but the one thing we can all agree on is that it is the Year of The Ox, 4719 and this year’s celebration is quite different.

What I’m missing the most this Lunar New Year is Family, the central tenet of New Year is being together, strengthening the family bond, giving wishes of health, happiness and wealth to our family and close friends.  Yes, the Dragon and Lion Dances are awesome and the firecrackers to scare off lingering bad luck from the prior year are awesome (it would have been some show this year, right?) but not being with your kin dampens the excitement quite a bit.

I miss the big family Closing the Year dinner and the even bigger Opening the New Year Banquet. I miss giving red envelopes to my nieces and nephews and unmarried younger siblings with two hands. Two hands always when handing out red envelopes.  I miss saying “Goong Hey Fat Choy!” loud and smiling with warmth in my heart and face.  I miss my mom. I miss the banquets. I really miss the red envelopes.

There are rules to the red envelopes at New Year.  Only married people can give out envelopes.  Business Owners can hand out to their employees. As a married person, you can give envelopes to any child but the amount varies depending on closeness.  Parents can always give envelopes to their children, married or not. My mom refuses to accept a red envelope from me but I can sneak one into a New Year bag of homemade goodies which should include oranges and/or apples.  Red envelopes contain money, not gift certificates or coupons or erasers. I told my mother about businesses giving red envelopes to customers containing discounts or deals and she was appalled.  She asked if people in town thought they were goody bags and then with a look of horror, she asked if I would be following suit.  To me, it’s cultural appropriation but as a business owner, I understand the marketing side to this.  I can’t with good conscience put anything but money in the envelopes. Red envelopes are for spreading prosperity. So my mom’s teachings will always stay with me and I will pass these values onto my children. Students who came into Mathnasium received money because that’s what they’re for.

This year, some of my relatives are getting their money via a red envelope emoji. It’s still money but the warmth is gone.  Speaking of which – is it snowing again????

Happy Year of the Ox to All!

Shop and dine our Red Envelope specials starting February 12th 2021

See participating stores and restaurants for red envelope specials, prizes and more. Our shops will have red envelopes, traditional for Lunar New Year. Inside those envelopes will be specials, gifts and more including many gift cards to area stores and restaurants.

Enjoy our festive decorations celebrating the eastern new year celebration with traditional Chinese lanterns and more.

Look for Red Envelopes at these participating stores and see them for how to receive your red envelopes (i.e with purchases, randomly awarded, etc..) : Arthur Murray Dance Studio, Brushed Tanning Studio, California Beach Hut, Dr. Andy Smith, Faith & Begorra, MoPweeze Bakery, My CBD Organics, Pure Barre, Prana Yoga, Weenies, Wish, Write On Gifts, Uptown Art, The Urban Muse, Vivians and more to come.

Hunan Taste 35th Anniversary Recognition. Feb 21st 2021 2pm

NJ’s #1 Chinese restaurant will be celebrating their 35th Anniversary. Please join Downtown Denville and many of our local representatives in recognizing their contribution to our downtown. The ceremony will take place outside Hunan Taste. Join us safely live or follow us along on Facebook and Instagram and see the Traditional Chinese Lion Dancers perform as well.

We’ll have an ice sculptor creating a great display starting at 10am and most likely finished by 2pm. He will be along Broadway on the point across from Veggie Heaven.

Please join us and shop our stores safely keeping social distance and wearing your mask.

The Denville Farmer’s Market is one of the few farmer’s markets that operates all Winter long. In the past, it has operated on a bi-weekly schedule during the winter months but it has switched to a weekly schedule this year so you can continue to enjoy fresh and local food every Sunday.

Set up in the Bloomfield Avenue commuter lot, next to Hunan Taste, a variety of local purveyors set up their tables every Sunday morning offering everything from local honey, fresh cider and seasonal produce to foraged mushrooms, and jams and jellies.

Celebrating over ten years downtown, patronizing our local farmer’s market is a wonderful way to support local businesses, easily find food items that are at their peak, and even get cooking and recipe suggestions from the vendors.

During the pandemic, the market and the vendors have pivoted to make sure to keep everyone safe but to be able to continue to offer their wares. The vendors are spaced well apart, as are customers waiting in line, and you can also pre-order many items for a grab-and-go pick-up experience.

Visit the farmer’s market’s web site and facebook page for detailed information on the different vendors, ordering in advance, and more.