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The chickens that I had spent months feeding in the back yard with corn became dishes on the table.
The Reunion Dinner on the new year’s eve is the most important meal during the Chinese New Year. For some years, in Malaysia, we kept chickens for a purpose. Just before the new year, older women in the neighborhood would get together to kill the chickens. I watched. Lots of scalding water. A twist of the necks. I was asked to help, so I got to hand pluck the feathers. My mum would always steam a corn-fed chicken - the gold-looking skin with a fat layer was appetising, and the meat tasted so succulent and sweet. Another dish would normally be a braised chicken in dark soya sauce. The aroma of ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and soya sauce wafted through the air.
Many years later I came to study, and then live in suburban England. For a few years we kept a few hens in the little back garden. These were spoilt, care-free hens, which even had names. These hens roamed free, sometimes they flew over the fences to annoy the neighbours. They gave us fresh eggs every morning. I am not sure what killed them later, probably weasels or foxes. It was a mystery.
The hens we used to keep in England. But, who took them?
What does New Year’s Eve mean to you? For many in the UK and across western Europe, it means having a party and welcoming in a new beginning with a toast and maybe a dance to Auld Lang Syne. The Chinese New Year could seem like a completely different world but, in reality, it’s also about saying goodbye to the old and welcoming in the new.
Geok Hoon Williams is committed to lifelong learning and building relationships. Understanding each other’s cultures is a great way to do that. Find out more on her LinkedIn profile.
