Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Happy Chinese New Year! Last year was the pig, this year it’s the rat!

In keeping with the previous year’s tradition, I paid a visit to Hong Kong‘s biggest Chinese New Year fair in Victoria Park.

I arrived at the New Year market (that spans all the way from Causeway Bay, across the park to Tin Hau,) just after midnight. The place was still packed despite the late hour and a little bit of rain. I spent the next two and a half hours walking around the many lanes of the fair checking out this year’s rat-themed merchandise.

Everything from lucky red underwear, to massive gold cupcakes and blow-up wedges of cheese were being touted.

Someone even tried to sell me what they called a gold “boo boo”. It looked like something you’d try not to step in.

The New Year fair is a constant stream of people.

Despite the massive volume, it’s not as chaotic as one would imagine. The crowds move slowly down the lanes examining the offerings while hawkers shout, chant and bang things to grab their attention. Various products are meant to bring luck or wealth, and are often a play on words in Cantonese. Some things on display have their roots in feng-shui (such as pin-wheels,) while others are just purely for fun.

The assortment of inflatable novelties is astounding. Animals and objects of every shape and color are being offered for a small amount.

The products are priced at lucky numbers, such as $38 Hong Kong dollars for a blow-up ice-cream pop (which was the cutest thing I saw, the gold cupcake took second-place.)

Flowers, trees and small bushes were also for sale.

These have traditional meanings and are thought to bring wealth, abundant relationships and well being. (I bought much bigger plants and flowers this year!) The plants are for sale on the south side of the market, in the opposite direction from the harbor. They take up the last two lanes of the fair.

There are many traditions also associated with the flowers. Supposedly carrying them around the market brings you luck, (if you saw a guy carrying around a cherry-blossom tree, two batches of flowers and a huge blow-up ice-cream, that was me!) I’ve been told that where you place them in your home is also significant.

The rain, the cold, and the late hour didn’t seem to dim people’s enthusiasm.

This being the biggest holiday of the year, there’s definitely a “Fat Choy” spirit in the air. Groups of friends or couples could be seen meandering around, walking the lanes or pausing for snacks.

By the time I left at around three am, the place was still going strong! I managed to walk with my purchases all the way to the taxi stand across from JP cinema. Luckily for me, the trees and flowers fit in the back of the car! I’ll be back again next year.

Here are some scenes from around the fair!

For a look at last year’s in-depth post including videos, go here.