Want another chance to usher in a new year? (Chinese New Year)

Member Name: genmil

Product:	Chinese New Year
Date:	20/01/09 (135 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An excuse to start the year again

Disadvantages: none

Chinese New Year is celebrated by all Chinese across the world. In my younger days, Chinese New Year was a rest day, school's out and the workplace is closed for the holiday. As I get older, I have discovered more about this tradition that I have taken for granted.

Chinese New Year,' Xin Nian' also known as Spring Festival falls in January or February every year. The calculation for the commencement of a new year is based on the lunar calendar; which correspond with the moon cycle. Hence, the date differs year by year. Chinese New Year celebrations last for 15 days, the first two days observed more prominently. This year, Chinese New Year will begin on the 26th January, 2009.

There is a mythology about Xin Nian that is being told to me as a child. According to legends, a mythical beast called, 'Nian' visit villages on the first day of New Year, terrorise the villagers and devour their livestock and crops. To protect themselves against 'Nian', the villagers would put food at their doorstep. It is believed that the beast would eat the food prepared and would not attack the people. There was also another tale about the beast scared away by a child wearing red clothing. Hence if you would often see homes in red decorations like red lanterns, red scrolls and red banner at the door and there are usually the symbolic red in New Year's attire. Firecrackers made into the shape of bamboos are fired to frighten away the beast.

Like Christmas, preparation for Chinese New Year starts a few weeks earlier. There will be preparation of food, cakes, tarts and biscuits which are make to be given away as gifts and to serve their guest during the celebrations. Young couples will buy gifts for their elders as a form of respect and to thank them for their guidance. The homes will be given a good clean as it is bad luck to bring an unclean home into the New Year. This is also the time for new things, new curtains, and new furniture if needed. Most importantly, new set of clothes to wear during the celebrations and yes, it will usually be in shades of red.

The most important meal is the reunion dinner on the eve of the New Year. This is the dinner where everyone in the family, from grandparents to grand children gathered for a feast. As from the word reunion dinner, it is a time for family to reunite, mend ties and celebrate. After dinner, some families would visit the flower market or participate in some outdoor celebrations. This is the night where children are not asked to go to bed early. There is a belief that the longer a child stays up on Chinese New Year's Eve, the parents would enjoy longevity. It is called 'Shou Sui'

The first two day of the Chinese New Year is the time for visiting. There is a hierarchy here; the eldest in the family would always be visited by the youngest members. If the grandparents are still living, then it would be in that order of seniority. Two mandarin oranges are usually presented to the host together with a greeting such as 'Xin Nian quai le' which means Happy New Year. The host would then return the gesture with a different set of mandarin oranges. Mandarin oranges symbolise gold nugget from ancient China.

During the celebrations, auspicious words are exchanged. For example, you would say, 'Good luck for your studies' for a student, 'May you have a successful career' for a working person, 'Good health be with you' for the elderly and 'May your business prosper' for business people. With well wishes flowing everywhere, it's hard not to start the New Year positively.

This is also the time when married couples will give red packet, 'Hong Bao' containing money to children, singles and the elders. It is a symbol of good luck to children for their studies, singles to find the right partner and the elders for good health. The amount of money in the red packet varies usually depending on the relationship and it will be in even denomination.

There are many code of practice during the Chinese New Year celebrations, which some would call superstition. Though I don't think there is much truth in it, somehow as it is ingrained inside me, I do unconsciously follow some of the practice.

Some of the practices are:

-Opening windows and doors to bring good luck into the New Year.
-Homes have to be cleaned before the New Year and no one should clean the house especially sweeping the floor on the first day as it will sweep away good fortune for the New Year.
-Black and white is symbol of death and bad luck and should not be worn during the celebrations.
-Used words that mean abundance in conversation, avoid words like 'finished',' loosing', or 'death'
- Argument and foul language are inappropriate and discourage during the Chinese New Year.
-Certain dishes are consumed for good luck, for example, there is a raw fish salad that is commonly serve during the Chinese New Year period in Malaysia and Singapore and it symbolises continuous abundance and wealth throughout the year.

For many Chinese, Chinese New Year is a new start, a new beginning. The codes of practices or superstitions are basically to ensure a good start into the new year. I have never bother to understand them but sometimes, after a lousy year, I do want to be able to leave that behind and start a fresh New Year.

And I have an excuse to do just that.

Happy Chinese New Year to all the Chinese members, members who celebrate this joyous occasion and those who want to have another chance to start the new year again.

Summary: Tradition,practices and superstition