Old Shanghai

“Gong Xi Fa Cai Hong Bao Na Lai!” is the jolliest jingle for the youngins, parents of married children and single adults of Chinese descent. It’s the password that translates to: may you gain greater wealth; give out the red envelope. After chanting those keywords it is customary for married couples to give red hong baos ( red envelope ) filled with money in return. Wrapping money in red envelope is believed to carry the hope of good energy, happiness and good luck to the receivers. Not to mention the Chinese believe red has the power to fright away the evil spirits. Therefore it is tradition to decorate the house with vibrant shades of red on the festive day.

There are other traditions that have to be meticulously followed leading up to the New Year celebration. Some believe that cleaning house should only done prior to the New Year. Sweeping is prohibited on the day of the celebration so we do not sweep away our fortunes. Some believe that it is only appropriate consume Chinese cuisine on the week of the New Year. I still remember waking up to the smell of freshly home made dumplings that made it easier to saying goodbye to bed. Mother would tell us dumplings resemble the shape of Chinese money in the olden times. We eat that on Chinese New Year Day in hopes that the year would be a prosperous one. However, when eating fish on the event, we must reserve one side. This symbolizes the overflowing blessings to come that we are unable to even finish.

The only thing I would change differently about my childhood experience is to capture those moments so we could all relive the memories when we are far from each other. On this edition of our 4-Hour photo package, we honor the beautiful Chinese New Year tradition by choosing Old Shanghai as our theme. Let us paint the picture red for you! Literally! We have dressed our studio in vibrant red color as guarantee that our session would be a fun filled one. Elegant parasol, regal painting of a bird cascading down the background wall, and dramatic hand fan are a few elements adorning the picture. All you have to do is dress up in your favorite Cheongsam attire that transports us back in time to the sophisticated Old Shanghai vibe. And bring your family along! Make sure they join the experience, create memories. That is the true essence of Chinese New Year. With just 4-Hour spent at Kairos Works, you and your family can continue the party at a Chinese restaurant feasting on dumplings!