When Culture Matters Most [Gong Xi Fa Chai]

When Culture Matters Most [Gong Xi Fa Chai]

Gong Xi Fa Chai.  Happy Chinese New Year to our Chinese communities celebrating CNY.  And given that Chinese New Year is being celebrated now, it behooves that we pause for a while and look into the values of the Chinese Culture which any of us non-Chinese should be able to appreciate from an objective perspective.  And it is just apt to take a sampling of the most common and popular Chinese practices. It does NOT matter whether one is Pro-China [politically] or not, we just cannot ignore the widely encompassing impact of the Chinese culture to our global village.  BTW, there are thirty five [35] Chinatowns across nineteen [19] countries across Asia, I.S. and Europe💎💎💎

I vividly remember the many dinners hosted by my bosses both in Singapore and when I was in Hong Kong for a month.  It was NOT just about the scrumptious dishes whose memories I cherish and relish till now but instead it's the Chinese cultural values.  LIKE the value to sit down together with the family during dinners.  LIKE the 'order of heirarchy' in the seat arrangements [during events and reunions]📌📌📌

LIKE the first to lift a pair of chopsticks is usually the head of the family.  During those Chinese meals hosted by my Chinese-American and Chinese-Canadian CEOs and CFOs, they were considered the 'head of the family'.  LIKE the default 'SEAT of HONOUR' in the table [even in a roundtable, the seat facing the entrance or access to the dining room.  LIKE the best and richest offerings are always placed near the parents or SEAT of HONOUR.  Once all the invited diners have gathered, that 'business of eating' begins.  In very traditional Chinese families, the MOST JUNIOR DINER would 'start the ball rolling' by inviting the 'ELDERS' to partake of the meal.  Statements steeped in tradition like " FATHER, PLEASE EAT.  MOTHER, PLEASE EAT AND OTHER SENIORS"📌📌📌

LIKE once the older diners start helping themselves to the food, the younger ones can relax.  But there still are certain rules of etiquette that must be observed.  LIKE you are supposed to take food from the plate nearest you.  LIKE you must NEVER flip through the food with your chopsticks which is considered rude💊💊💊

LIKE the diners around the Chinese table often pick up choice morsels and it in each other's bowls.  That is an expression of affection as if to say "I CARE".  LIKE a favoured child or head of the family or an honoured guest may get a chicken drumstick, a succulent piece of fish belly or a tender piece of pork.  LIKE when the meal is completed, the pair of chopsticks is always neatly placed by the side of the bowl [and NEVER on top of the bowl or WORST, stuck into the remains of the meal].  As there is NEVER a perfect culture or race, can we pause for a minute and peruse this apples-to-apples comparison of the American and Chinese cultural values.  An eye-opener indeed.  Gong Xi Fa Chai❗❗❗