BACKPACKERS from Taiwan, Indonesia and Vietnam celebrated the end of the Year of the Rabbit and the start of the Year of the Dragon in a Lunar New Year get together at the Boathouse in Currie on Saturday.
Red lanterns, which are symbols of prosperity, added to the Boathouse’s explosion of colour. Whether it’s Chinese New Year, Vietnam’s Tết, Imlek in Indonesia, Filipino-Chinese Tsinoy, or Malaysian Kongsi Raya, all have traditions that vary around the Spring Festival celebrations that mark the start of the first month of the lunar calendar.
Coming together with family and community to share certain foods and colours is believed to bring good fortune, happiness and longevity. While traditions vary, these are the common thread throughout east and south-east Asian countries during this period.
“We had make-your-own Taiwanese dumplings, Vietnamese pho, coffee and rice paper pizza yes, rice paper pizza tea eggs, shallot pancake, hibachi grilled kebabs and, to finish off, Taiwanese pineapple cake. It was an event where everyone pitched in to make dumplings and learn how to make food from other countries too,” Programmed King Island employment coordinator Lee Jefferies said.
“There’s a mixture of backpackers from different countries working on the dairy farm and at the cheese factory. Most are finishing up in the next month.
Some are going back home to their countries as they have been in Australia for a couple of years, and others have been on the island for three to six months. Some are ready to return to their families and others would love to find more work and stay longer.”