Over the next few days I'll be posting about our various Chinese New Year activities. We've been having a great time celebrating with our family and friends. The Spring Festival/Chinese New Year is the most important annual holiday in Chinese culture. In our own small way we do our best to make this a festive time for our family as well.
Happy New Year from WI!!! We are wishing you good fortune and prosperity in the year of the Ox.
I did a little Wikipedia research this afternoon to find out why we do the things we do to celebrate Chinese New Year. Here are a few tidbits:
The Color Red and Fireworks
"According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nian or "Year" in Chinese. Nian would come on the first day of New Year to devour livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nian ate the food they prepared, it wouldn’t attack any more people. One time, people saw that the Nian was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then understood that the Nian was afraid of the color red. Hence, every time when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nian."
Red Envelopes
"Members of the family who are married give red packets containing cash to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers. Red packets almost always contain money, usually varying from a couple of dollars to several hundred. Per custom, the amount of money in the red packets should be of even numbers, as odd numbers are associated with cash given during funerals. The number 8 is considered lucky (for its homophone for "wealth"), and $8 is commonly found in the red envelopes. The number six is also very lucky due to the reason, in chinese six[六,liu] can mean smooth, as in having a smooth year. Sometimes chocolate coins are found in the red packets. Odd and even numbers are determined by the first digit, rather than the last. Thirty and fifty, for example, are odd numbers, and are thus appropriate as funeral cash gifts. However, it is common and quite acceptable to have cash gifts in a red packet using a single bank note – with ten or fifty yuan bills used frequently."
Preparation/Customs
On the days before the New Year celebration Chinese families give their home a thorough cleaning. There is a Cantonese saying "Wash away the dirt on ninyabaat" (年廿八，洗?遢), but the practice is not usually restricted on nin'ya'baat (年廿八, the 28th day of month 12). It is believed the cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck. Brooms and dust pans are put away on the first day so that luck cannot be swept away. Some people give their homes, doors and window-frames a new coat of red paint. Homes are often decorated with paper cutouts of Chinese auspicious phrases and couplets. Purchasing new clothing, shoes and receiving a hair-cut also symbolize a fresh start. Some families may invite a lion dance troupe as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Lunar New Year as well as to evict bad spirits from the premises."
Food (These are just a couple that we made at our house. Of course there is a LONG list of popular dishes to serve.)
"Noodles -Families may serve uncut noodles, which represent longevity and long life, though this practice is not limited to the new year."
"Jiaozi dumplings
Eaten traditionally in northern China because the preparation is similar to packaging luck inside the dumpling, which is later eaten."
Chinese New Year began this year on Jan. 26 and will continue 15 days until the Lantern Festival on Feb. 9. Our parties have been pretty spread out and a little less LOUD than traditional Chinese celebrations. I have a friend currently in Beijing who said the longest stretch of silence he noticed [between fireworks] was 7 seconds that first night. WOW! His words, "Holy CHINA!" We've been having a great time so far this year. Hope is starting to ask more questions about China and we're trying very hard to honor some of the traditions. Here is what we've been up to.
1/24/09 - Red Thread CNY Party
Our first party of the season was 1.5 hrs away (sort of NW of the twin cities metro area), but was so worth the drive. I'm lucky to be part of a "MN Red Thread" group and was looking forward to this gathering so much. This is a special group of people. I think about 50 people RSVP'd to attend this gathering but I'm not sure of the final count. I know the basement was FULL of happy children and for me that was the highlight of the night. Just look at these beautiful faces!
These next few are some of my favorites...
"Tan Couch Photos" - You can imagine the fun chaos here.
So, that was our first night. It was an awesome way to kick off the season.
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