Chinese New Year
Chinese new year is one of many famous celebrations every year. Let’s explore what, when and how is chinese new year celebrated.
In the Philippines, we are influenced by the Chinese culture and have implemented a few practices, beliefs and superstitions. We have applied them in our daily life and especially even in our own New Year celebration.
Such beliefs are:
Having round fruits of even number on the dining table
Not sweeping at night or during new year.
Turning on all the lights and windows during new year
Making as much noise as possible during new year
Reunion dinner with the family
To make this post or the video relatable and authentic, I’ve asked some of my friends how they celebrate Chinese New Year to get an insight and their knowledge in the celebration.
What is Chinese New Year?
Chinese new year comes at the start of the lunar calendar which is based on the phases of the moon, on the new moon and marks the start of the spring or end of winter.
Where did it originate from?
It is believed to have come from the Legend of Nian, an ancient beast called ‘Nian’ which means ‘Year’ terrorized a village, ate their crops, livestocks and even eats children. In some accounts, it is believed that it was a traveler, a monk or a random person who passed by the village, who gave advice to the villagers that the Nian is afraid of red and loud noises. From then on, the villagers decorated their villages with red and made loud noises to repel the Nian.
15 days of Chinese New Year Celebration.
Apparently, the CNY celebration does not end overnight. It lasts for 15 days. In these 15 days, certain days have certain purposes and meanings.
Day 1 (Chu Yī) - New year dayVisitation to family starts and is one of the most important days. The eldest members of the family are visited first and it helps to strengthen the bond of the family.
Day 2 (Chu Èr) - Family & friends visitationVisitations to parents and close friends are done on the second day.
Day 3 (Chu Sān) - Grave visitingIt is unlucky to house visit on the third day, thus it is allocated to praying and burning paper offerings over trash fires. It is also for grave-visiting.
Day 5 (Chu Wu) - God of Wealth/Fortune’s dayIt is when another round of fireworks is lighted to attract the god’s attention to get his favor and receive good fortune for the year.
Day 6 (Chu Liù) - Bringing in the NewOn the sixth day, it is when people drive away the Ghost of Poverty. Removing the old and bringing in the new, setting new goals and temple visitations.
Day 7 (Ren Ri) - Everyone’s Birthday It is the Birth of Mankind. It is celebrated with the tossing of Yusheng which symbolizes more abundance and prosperity.
Day 8 (Chu bā) - Company dinnersTo give thanks to employees and employers for the hard work of the past year and hoping to receive a better year this year.
Day 9 (Chu Jiu) - Jade Emperor’s birthdayThere are myths regarding the Jade Emperor. He is one of the first gods.
Day 15 (Chu Shí Wu) - Lantern FestivalLantern represents light, thus is associated to use it to guide the gods and spirits back home as the 15th day ends the festivities of the Chinese New Year. There are multiple myths and legends surrounding the lantern festival as well.
Prosperity ribbon with messages & Pinwheels
Chinese lanterns
Decorations
Of course all things related to this famous celebration has to have every positive, fortune bringing blessings. For example:
Papercuts & couplets - invites good fortune, good health, wealth and longevity
fu(blessing/happiness- upside down- has arrived
Firecrackers - Tang Dynasty(gun powder), widely used in song dynasty- scare evil away/ nian. originally bamboo with gun powder, red paper imitating a bamboo joint
Chinese Knot - longevity
Lanterns - bright and red to guide the deities home.
Dragon dance &lion dance - Dragon and lion dances are common during Chinese New Year. It is believed that the loud beats of the drum and the deafening sounds of the cymbals together with the face of the Dragon or lion dancing aggressively can evict bad or evil spirits
Fortune gods-
Round Fruits in even number
Dumpling
Food:
Niangao(tikoy) - Chinese New Year Cake. Sticky. Strengthens bonds.
Mandarin Orange - golden and round
Noodles - longevity
North China- Dumplings first meal of the year at midnight or breakfast, symbolizes wealth, shpe resembles a chinese ingot/sycee- imperial currency (qin dynasty
Yusheng - rising wealth, prosperity
Flowers:
Floral Decor Meaning
Plum Blossom symbolizes luckiness
Kumquat symbolizes prosperity
Calamondin Symbolizes luck
Narcissus symbolizes prosperity
Bamboo a plant used for any time of year
Sunflower means to have a good year
Eggplant a plant to heal all of your sicknesses
Chom Mon Plant a plant which gives you tranquility
Practices:
Hong bao/Angpao/laisee- red envelopes with even number except 4=death (odd numbers = funeral) money. given to juniors, youngsters and unmarried.
Ya Shi Qian - coins in strings- Qing dynasty,lucky money given to children in a strong or in a purse.
Gift exchange- exchange sweets and treats. avoid gifts that bring harm/taboo/negative (sharp, items associated to funerals, clocks, shoes(walking away), clocks.
Fireworks- noise
Markets - good for business and invites prosperous year
Shows - operas
nianhua- woodblock printing
I hope you learned a thing or two. Look out for the next post!
Reference:
http://www.myownchinesebrocade.com/picture-a-day-1/2016/2/3/life-in-china-a-picture-a-day-february-3-2016
https://www.timeout.com/singapore/things-to-do/the-beginners-guide-to-chinese-new-year-traditions-and-etiquette
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/01/31/do-you-know-the-legend-of-the-nian-monster#:~:text=According%20to%20legend%2C%20in%20ancient,and%20even%20people%2C%20especially%20children.&text=The%20old%20beggar%20told%20her,a%20night%20at%20her%20house.
https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/chinese-new-year-festivities.htm#:~:text=The%2015th%20day%20marks%20the,large%20part%20of%20the%20celebrations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year
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