Year of the Dragon and traditions of Chinese New Year
The annual Chinese New Year or Chun Jie (春节) is just around the corner. For centuries Chinese have observed this traditional holiday to welcome the beginning of a new year. Guo nian (过年), which literally means 'passing the new year' in Chinese, starts one day earlier from the eve of the Lunar New Year. It is the most important traditional festival for Chinese people all over the world.
In Chinese Astrology 2012 is the Year of the Dragon. The Year of the Dragon will start on 23 January 2012 and end on 09 February 2013.
Furthermore, on the New Year's Eve, people all desire to return home to have a wonderful family reunion dinner, no matter how far away and how busy the work is. The New Year vacation offers time not only enjoys a relaxation without busy jobs, but also being family festival. Despite drinking alcohol on New Year's Eve for many people, New Year's Day signals the start of a healthier life, as some people make New Year's resolutions. Often these are connected with fitness and health, for example giving up smoking or drinking, taking more exercise or losing weight.
Chinese New Year dates and the related animal zodiac
2012 Jan 23 - Dragon
2013 Feb 10 - Snake
2014 Jan 31 - Horse
2015 Feb 19 - Goat
2016 Feb 8 - Monkey
2017 Jan 28 - Rooster
2018 Feb 16 - Dog
2019 Feb 5 - Pig
A list of taboos on the Chinese New Year Day:
- Since everybody is in a festival mood under a joyful and hilarious atmosphere, people shouldn't argue each other. Also parents shouldn't scold or punish the children. Otherwise, you will have more argument in the New Year.
- Breaking dish plate, bowel or cup means bad money luck coming. In case that happens, then Chinese put all broken pieces in a round container until the coming trash day.
- To sweep the floor or dump the trash will take away the wealth and luck from the house.
- Don't wear in all black or white to visit friends, because black and white are funeral colour in China.
- People shouldn't visit friend's house, if they have a family member newly past away.
- If someone owes you money, do not ask for the money back on this day. Otherwise, you will do it often in the rest of the year.
- Don't let people take anything away from your pocket or purse, because that's a sign of money loss in the year.
Preparations before Spring Festival
Spring couplet
Laba(腊八) is celebrated on the eighth day of the last lunar month. On Laba Day, Chinese people usually have the laba porridge, referring to the traditional start of celebrations for the Chinese New Year. Following after that, as the spring festival approach, people have already made special purchases for the festival beforehand such as presents, decorations, special foods and new clothing.
Before Spring Festival, houses are cleaned inside and out as family members participate in the "Year-end Spring-cleaning". In this way, sweeping the dust before the Spring Festival means complete cleaning of houses to sweep away bad luck in the past year. No sweeping is allowed on the first day of Chinese New Year as it is believed that you will be sweeping out all your good luck or family fortune. Besides, people putting up spring couplet which is Chinese calligraphers with the New Year's poetry on the red color paper either at top or on both side of the main-entry door as well as hang red lanterns for the New Year’s blessing.
Spring Festival Eve (除夕)
The New Year's celebrations start with a grand feast on New Year's Eve, the eve dinner (年夜饭) is considered as the most important family banquet and people either dine at home or in restaurants.
Chinese New Year day usually is close to spring, but it's very often that the weather is still cold. In ancient China, in order to eat the warm food, Chinese had to sit around the cooking stove for New Year Eve dinner. That's why this dinner is also called Wei-Lu (围炉) in Xiamen and Minnan area (southern Fujian), which means "surrounding the stove".
There are many dishes on the dinner table. Every dish has an auspicious meaning behind it. It's connected to longevity, reunion, perfection, good luck, health, diligence, satisfaction or promotion based on the homophone of the dish's name. For instance, Fish is always a part of the dinner because it represents the accumulation of prosperity and wealth on New Year's Eve.
Additionally, a popular local dish in Xiamen is Nian gao (年糕) or sweet sticky rice cake, which symbolizes the improvement of people’s life and work, step by step and year by year.
Nian Gao or Sweet Sticky Rice Cake
In Xiamen, after dinner on Spring Festival Eve, the whole family stays up all night to count down for the New Year, playing cards, and board games like Mah-Jong or watching TV shows for Chinese New Year special. More importantly, the last event is Shou sui (守岁) or vigil to wait for New Year coming so as to extend parents lifespan.
During Spring Festival
On the first of Chinese New Year, people are all dressed in new clothes. As the old saying goes: Not wearing new clothes in the festival will be out of luck.
In general, the elder people will stay at home to welcome visiting relatives on the first day. The hosts will serve their guests with all kinds of cookies, preserves and mandarin orange, which is a symbol of prosperity.
Red envelope money
During Spring Festival, the younger generation will visit their elder relatives and friends to give wishes on good fortune for the New Year, with greeting like Gong xi fa cai, which means "Wishing you prosperity". The elder people usually give lucky money or red envelope money（红包）in a red pocket to children, Red symbolizes happiness and good luck in Chinese custom.
It’s children's favorite holiday. Obviously, they are not only excited about the money, but also appreciate the expression of love and goodwill. Meanwhile, adults will also give red pocket money to elders as the represent of honor.
Some people would like to take whole family to countryside to enjoy the beautiful scenery. While others like to go to temple to pray for coming luck. Today, more and more young people go to department stores to spend their Red Envelope money and shop for the New Year special bargains or go to movie theaters with friends. Meanwhile, the Chinese also like to set off fireworks and firecrackers during this time.
The second day of Chinese New Year is the day for married daughters and son-in-law to visit her parents. Please bear in mind on the third day, not visiting and socialize are allowed. Especially, the ninth day of the New Year is traditionally the birthday of the Jade Emperor, Which is significant to the people of Amoy; every family will offer thanks giving prayers to the Emperor of Heaven.
Finally, the 15th day marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. It is known as Yuan Xiao Jie, meaning "first night of the full moon". Another reunion dinner is held on this day, with lantern and yuan xiao (元宵) being a large part of the celebrations. It is also referred to as Deng Jie or "Lantern Festival". Watching lanterns and eating Yuanxiao (made of glutinous rice and filled with delicious stuffing) are two main activities for Yuanxiao festival celebration.
At this time, people will try to guess riddles. Besides, spectacular displays of lanterns are the staple of the festival. Xiamen lantern show will be held at Bailuzhou park every year, which is the ideal place to watch lanterns.
As the New Year approaching, WOZ and the team wish everyone: Happy New Year, Gong Xi Fa Chai (恭喜发财) and all the best in the year of “Dragon” (2012)!
SOURCE: www.squidoo.com & www.chinesefortunecalendar.com
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