Colby
13-01-2006, 12:22 AM
Chinese New Year is just around the corner and this will be my 2nd Chinese New Year. This year it falls on the 29th January and each year it changes because it's based on the New Moon of the New Year. The Chinese New Year celebrations end 15 days after it begins, which coincides with the Full Moon.
I thought I would share with you the rituals/traditions:-
* New Year's Eve and New Year's Day is traditionally celebrated with family with a banquet held on New Year's Eve to acknowledge their ancestors in spirit and alive.
* The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Eve as well as anything fixed, painted etc. There should be no cleaning tools or products displayed or used on New Years Day. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Years Day with the fear that the good fortune for the new year will be swept away.
* Cleaning and sweeping can be done after New Year's Day but everything should be swept into the corners and not swept away until the 5th day of the New Year. Also the dust and rubbish in the corners should not be trampled on.
* The superstition is that if you sweep the dust out through the front door, you're sweeping the family away. The sweeping must be inwards and then carried out through the back door, therefore, no harm will be done.
* Shooting off firecrackers on New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the New Year.
* On the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, every door in the house, and even windows, have to be open to allow the old year to go out. (I forgot to do this last year as it was soooo cold).
* All debts have to paid by New Year's Day and nothing should be lent on that day, as anyone who does so will be lending all the year.
* If you cry on New Year's day, you will cry all through the year. Therefore, children are tolerated and are not spanked, even though they are mischievous.
* On New Year's Day, we are not suppose to wash our hair because it would mean we would have washed away good luck for the New Year.
* Little red envelopes with crisp one dollar bills are given to children, unmarried friends, close relatives and anyone that has served you throughout the year. These are known as Lai See and are for good fortune. Here in HK $20HKD is a good offering ($3.42 AUD and $3.69 NZD). The tradition is that only married couples give out lai see, however if you are an employer and unmarried you should give lai see because your employee's have served you throughout the year. As we have securities guards at our complex, they should receive lai see from the married tenants. It is expected that Westerner's whether married or not should give lai see otherwise your name is mud :dk:
* It is considered unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom so that is why everyone, even the sick, should get dressed and sit in the living room.
* Do not use knives or scissors on New Year's Day as this may cut off fortune.
* For those most superstitious, before leaving the house to call on others, the Almanac should be consulted to find the best time to leave the home and the direction which is most auspicious to head out.
* The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.
:)
I thought I would share with you the rituals/traditions:-
* New Year's Eve and New Year's Day is traditionally celebrated with family with a banquet held on New Year's Eve to acknowledge their ancestors in spirit and alive.
* The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Eve as well as anything fixed, painted etc. There should be no cleaning tools or products displayed or used on New Years Day. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Years Day with the fear that the good fortune for the new year will be swept away.
* Cleaning and sweeping can be done after New Year's Day but everything should be swept into the corners and not swept away until the 5th day of the New Year. Also the dust and rubbish in the corners should not be trampled on.
* The superstition is that if you sweep the dust out through the front door, you're sweeping the family away. The sweeping must be inwards and then carried out through the back door, therefore, no harm will be done.
* Shooting off firecrackers on New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the New Year.
* On the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, every door in the house, and even windows, have to be open to allow the old year to go out. (I forgot to do this last year as it was soooo cold).
* All debts have to paid by New Year's Day and nothing should be lent on that day, as anyone who does so will be lending all the year.
* If you cry on New Year's day, you will cry all through the year. Therefore, children are tolerated and are not spanked, even though they are mischievous.
* On New Year's Day, we are not suppose to wash our hair because it would mean we would have washed away good luck for the New Year.
* Little red envelopes with crisp one dollar bills are given to children, unmarried friends, close relatives and anyone that has served you throughout the year. These are known as Lai See and are for good fortune. Here in HK $20HKD is a good offering ($3.42 AUD and $3.69 NZD). The tradition is that only married couples give out lai see, however if you are an employer and unmarried you should give lai see because your employee's have served you throughout the year. As we have securities guards at our complex, they should receive lai see from the married tenants. It is expected that Westerner's whether married or not should give lai see otherwise your name is mud :dk:
* It is considered unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom so that is why everyone, even the sick, should get dressed and sit in the living room.
* Do not use knives or scissors on New Year's Day as this may cut off fortune.
* For those most superstitious, before leaving the house to call on others, the Almanac should be consulted to find the best time to leave the home and the direction which is most auspicious to head out.
* The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.
:)