Chinese New Year

Why is Chinese New Year so important to the Chinese? Chinese New Year marks a fresh, new start for everyone, as before the festival begins, the Chinese have to clear any debts, unhappiness or enmity. The Chinese New Year season lasts for fifteen days and during those days, the Chinese are not supposed to say inauspicious words.

On Chinese New Year’s eve, the Chinese will give their home a thorough cleaning. It is believed the cleaning removes the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck. Some people give their homes, doors and window-panes a new coat of red paint. Homes are often decorated with paper cutouts of Chinese auspicious phrases and couplets. Families will come together on this day to have a meal. This meal is also known as the reunion dinner. After the dinner, children will also stay awake during the night to pray for the good health and longevity of their parents. This is known as ‘Shou Sui’.

On the first day of Chinese New Year, brooms and dust pans are put away so that luck cannot be swept away. In the morning, the families open their doors very early in the morning to welcome the God of Wealth, who is known as the ‘Cai Shen Ye’. Many people also abstain from meat on this day because this is believed to ensure long and happy lives for them. It is believed that it is a form of respect for the younger generations to visit the older generations in the family. The Chinese will put on their new clothes before the visiting journey starts. On this day, the children and unmarried people get red packets with a few words of blessings from their elders. Lion dance troupes are also deployed to ward off bad luck.

On the second day of Chinese New Year, married daughters return home to reunite with their family. The seventh day of Chinese New Year, also known as the birthday of everyone (‘Ren Ri’), is the birthday of the Jade Emperor. It is when the Chinese toss Chinese-style raw fish salad known as ‘Yu Sheng’. In the midst of tossing, people typically shout out words of blessing for good luck. The fifteenth day, the last day of the new year, is celebrated as ‘Yuan Xiao Jie’. On this day, families eat sweet glutinous rice balls known as ‘tangyuan’, brewed in a sweet soup.

Chinese New Year is very important to the Chinese as it marks a new beginning for the Chinese. Every Chinese treats the festival as a period for relaxation and enjoyment. However, children and unmarried people also treat it as a time for them to obtain easy money, as they only have to greet their elders to receive red packets from them. Most importantly, it is a period of time for the Chinese visit their families and to get together with relatives and friends.

(488 words)