Chinese Festivals

Chinese New year

Of all the festivals across the Chinese calendar, the largest and most observed one is Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year (from hereon known as CNY) is celebrated all around the world by the Chinese diasporas, across the Asia pacific and of course in China itself. As important as festivals such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Eid and Diwali are in different cultures in terms of family togetherness, Chinese New Year is the most important festival for many people in Asia and often cities grind to a halt for a week or two to celebrate.

CNY often starts with the new moon on the first day of the New Year and ends on the full moon 15 days later after a whole host of celebrations and festivities. The 15th day of the New Year is called the lantern festival and is traditionally the end of the festive period.

New Years Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of heaven and earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors. Given traditional Chinese feudalism and family values, the presence of ancestors is acknowledged on New Years Eve with a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table. The spirits of the ancestors together with the living, celebrate the onset of the new year as one great community, the communal feast is called the "surrounding of the stove" or Weilu. It symbolizes family unity and honors the past and present generation. This is one of the most important aspects of Chinese New Year.

The 15 Day Celebration of Chinese New Year

The first day of the lunar New Year is the "welcoming of the gods of the heavens and earth". Many people abstain from meat on the first day of the New Year because it is believed that this will ensure a long and happy life for them, this is why vegetarian food is normally served on this day. On the second day, the Chinese pray to their ancestors as well as to all the gods.

The third and fourth days are for the sons in laws to pay respects to their parents in law. The fifth day is called Po Woo. On that day, people stay home to welcome the god of wealth. No one visits families and friends on the fifth day because it will bring both parties bad luck. On the sixth to tenth days, the Chinese visit their friends and relatives freely and often in cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore, large communal family dinners are commonplace. Cities such as Hong Kong and Beijing tend to 'empty' out as thousands go 'home' or go away for holiday. People also visit the temples to pray for good fortune and health in both the short term and long term.

The seventh day of the New Year is the day for farmers around the Asia pacific to display their produce. Over this period, noodles are eaten to promote longevity and raw fish for success. The ninth day is to make offerings to the jade emperor to ensure good luck and prosperity. The 10th through to 12th days are days that friends and relatives should been invited for dinner. After so much rich food and endless banquets, on the 13th day people should have simple rice congee and mustard greens to cleanse their internal systems.

The 14th day should be for preparations to celebrate the lantern festival which is to be held on the 15th night. Food is of course, one of the most important aspects of any culture and during Chinese New Year, probably more food is consumed during New Year celebrations than any other time of the year. Vast amounts of traditional food are prepared for family and friends as well as those close to us whom have died as ancestor worship is still imperative to many families.

On New Years day itself, traditional Chinese families will eat a vegetarian dish called jai. Although the various ingredients in Jai are root vegetables or fibrous vegetables, many people attribute various superstitious aspects to them as listed below:

• Lotus Seed represents having many offspring.
• Ginkgo Nut represents silver ingots.
• Black Moss Seaweed represents exceeding in wealth.
• Dried Bean curd represents fulfillment of wealth and happiness.
• Bamboo Shoots is a term which sounds like "wishing that everything would be well".

Chinese Decorations for Happiness and Luck

Prior to new years day, Chinese families decorate their living rooms with vases or pretty blossoms, platters of oranges and tangerines, and a candy tray with eight varieties of dried sweet fruit. On walls and doors are poetic couplets, happy wishes written on red paper. These include messages such as "May you enjoy continuous good health" and "may the star of happiness, the star of health and the star of longevity shine on you".

Plants and Flowers for Rebirth and New growth

Every traditional Chinese household should have live blooming plants to symbolize rebirth and new growth. Flowers are believed to be symbol of wealth and high positions in ones career.

Oranges and tangerines for symbolism

General politeness stresses that you must bring a bag of oranges / tangerines and enclose a Lai see when visiting friends. Tangerines with leaves intact assure that ones relationship with another remains secure. For newly weds, this represents the branching of the couple into a family with many children. Oranges and tangerines are symbols for abundant happiness.

House Cleaning for better luck

The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. On New Years Eve, all brushes brooms, dusters; dust pans and other cleaning are put away. Seeping or dusters should not be used for fear that good fortune will be swept away. After news day, the floor may be finally swept.

Expelling the Old and Welcoming the New

Shooting off Fireworks on New Years Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming the New Year. On new years day, we are not supposed to wash our hair as it means washing out the good luck for the year. Red clothing is also preferred as it reflects happiness and joy. Lastly, Lai see packets are given by married couples to young children and unmarried people so if you come from a large family, this is definitely seen as a prosperous time of year.