Chinese New Year Traditions And Their Origins
I believe Chinese all over the world are getting excited.
They will flock the shopping malls, hypermarts, markets etc to stock up for the festive season, which is beginning on the 26 January this year; while some will buy new dresses to be worn on the New Year day.
Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, Spring Festival (Chun Jie) celebrations actually begins on the eve, that is on the 25 January.
This is the time for all family members and relatives to return to their parents' home for reunion. That is why the dinner on the eve is also known as Reunion Dinner (Tuan Yuan Fan).
There are some interesting traditions been practiced during the Chinese New Year in general.
Let's see some of them and their origins...
It was said in the ancient time, the earth was full of venomous snakes and ferecious beasts. One of these creature is known and Nian. (The character Nian also means 'Year')
On the New Year Eve, Nian would roam in the city and devour people.
The people were depressed and would lock themselves indoor during that time.
Then came an old man who volunteered himself to fight Nian.
This old man went straight to the mountain and challenged Nian, "If you think you're so strong, prove yourself. Would you dare to eat the venomous snakes in the forests?"
Nian accepted the challenge and sucked up all the snakes into its stomach.
"At the back of the mountain, there are many fierce beasts. Can you defeat them?" The old man threw another challenge.
Again, Nian accepted the challenge and crushed those beasts and drove them away.
"Ahh, now you're qualify to eat me. But let me take out my robes first," said the old man.
The old man took of his robe and revealed a red undergarment.
Nian was afraid of seeing red! Nian was so scare that it pleaded with the old man, "Please, I'll do what you say, but please put away that color!"
"Alright, I'll put it away. But you must not harm the people ever again," the old man demanded.
"Yes, yes! I'll do what you say," Nian nodded. "I'll be your humble servant from now on!"
The old man had finally defeated Nian, and went back to the city and told the people that Nian would no longer appear in the city from then onward.
He told the people that Nian is most terrified of red, and so from then on, people would paste red paper on the front door to prevent Nian from coming back again.
Now, you can see Chinese pasting red paper couplets (two rows of writing, usually rhymed.); hanging decorations and paper arts in red and gold; hanging red lattern; giving red packets (Hong Bao); wearing red dresses or clothes etc.
Here, these are some pictures of the 'red' stuffs I've just mentioned:
Simple red paper with bamboo drawing and the word "Peace"
Latterns are usually red in colors
A Chinese lady in red, with Red Packet (Hong Bao)
A sample paper art, with the character "Fu", meaning Luck or Blessings
Another paper art, with the words, "Spring Returned To The Land"
2) No Broom And Sweeping, Please!
There was once a man by the name of Ou Ming who was swept away by the storm when the boat in which he travelled in capsized.
He was washed ashore on an unknown island. A owner of the island, Qing Hongjun saved him and treated him with great hospitality.
Before Ou Ming left the island, Qing offered a gift to Qu Ming, but on one condition - he can only choose one.
Qing had a big collection of precious stones, gems, jewelleries, gold bars etc, and Ou Ming didn't know how to choose. Qing's servant gave him a hint: Ru Yuan was the real treasure.
Ou Ming decided to listen to the servant and asked for Ru Yuan. It turn out to be a beautiful servant girl.
Qing honored the request and sent them off. Before that, Qing gave Ru Yuan a box of jewelleries as the dowry.
When they returned home, Ou Ming treated Ru Yuan well until one day, Ru Yuan gave the jewellery box and the key to Ou Ming saying, "Please do not take me as an outsider. You may keep the box of jewellery."
From then onward, Ou Ming changed. He treated Ru Yuan badly; put her to work long hours; hit her whenever he's in foul mood; and served him like a king.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Ou Ming wanted to hit Ru Yuan because she got up late that day.
Ru Yuan ran while Ou Ming kept on chasing. There was a broom outside the compound, and when Ru Yuan ran pass it, she jumped into the broom and vanished since then.
All the jewellery from the box flew and vanished together into the broom!
Ou Ming became a beggar since then.
Therefore, after cleaning the homes on the New Year Eve, the Chinese would hide their brooms, and do not allow sweeping on the New Year day, fearing that it will 'sweep' their fortunes away.
3) The Bamboo Firecracker
The bamboo firecrackers are red in color, in the form of a small cylinder. Most of the time, these small cylinders are tied up together in a line. When lit, it will make quick successive cracks, as one explodes after another.
Decoration made to look like the bamboo fire cracker
There's also a story of how bamboo firecracker is been lit during Chinese New Year.
It was said that once, on the mountain full of bamboo grove, lived a group of strange creatures which were only one foot tall and had only one leg.
Anyone passed by the mountain during the New Year day would be attacked and robbed by them.
One one New Year day, these creatures attacked a man, and the man resisted, and managed to capture one of the them and tied up.
The man wanted to bring the creature to the magistrate and when others saw him with the creature, they asked him to release it immediately because it would bring sickness to whoever came near it.
True enough, that man fell into sickness on the spot, and other built some fire to keep him warm. In order to make the fire bigger, they threw in some bamboo pieces into the fire.
Suddenly, there were creatures surrounding them, ready to attack! Before they could come near, the bamboo pieces in the fire exploded and made loud cracking noises.
The creatures were terrified and ran away.
"Aha! So these creatures are afraid of the sounds of burning bamboo tubes! They are so terrified that they have fled, " exclaimed one of the man.
Since then, people would burn bamboo tubes to scare these creatures away. This became a tradition during Chinese New Year - burning bamboo fire cracker to scare away evil beings.
When I was a child, I loved playing fire crackers with friends on Chinese New Year... too bad our government had banned this practice years ago! :(
4) Other Traditions...
There are other Chinese New Year traditions which I didn't write about yet:
1) Writing Spring Couplets
2) Hanging Red Latterns
3) Dragon Lattern Dance
4) Lion Dance
5) Origin Of New Year Cards
6) Red Packets or Ya Shui Money
Perhaps, if I can get more information on these, I would love to share the stories with you.
Now, there's another tradition, or rather superstition believed by some Chinese, which is not related to Chinese New Year. I'm doing some research on it now, and I'll write about it in 3 day's time, that is, on the 18 January 2009.
Till then, have a great day, and if you're a Chinese, "Happy Preparing For Chinese New Year!" (I'll wish you Happy CNY on 18 Jan, OK?)
Guan
Tai Chi Breathing
Spa Salt Ginger Oil
Chinese Story Wisdom
They will flock the shopping malls, hypermarts, markets etc to stock up for the festive season, which is beginning on the 26 January this year; while some will buy new dresses to be worn on the New Year day.
Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, Spring Festival (Chun Jie) celebrations actually begins on the eve, that is on the 25 January.
This is the time for all family members and relatives to return to their parents' home for reunion. That is why the dinner on the eve is also known as Reunion Dinner (Tuan Yuan Fan).
There are some interesting traditions been practiced during the Chinese New Year in general.
Let's see some of them and their origins...
1) Red: We're Loving It!
It was said in the ancient time, the earth was full of venomous snakes and ferecious beasts. One of these creature is known and Nian. (The character Nian also means 'Year')
On the New Year Eve, Nian would roam in the city and devour people.
The people were depressed and would lock themselves indoor during that time.
Then came an old man who volunteered himself to fight Nian.
The Old Man Challenged Nian...
This old man went straight to the mountain and challenged Nian, "If you think you're so strong, prove yourself. Would you dare to eat the venomous snakes in the forests?"
Nian accepted the challenge and sucked up all the snakes into its stomach.
"At the back of the mountain, there are many fierce beasts. Can you defeat them?" The old man threw another challenge.
Again, Nian accepted the challenge and crushed those beasts and drove them away.
"Ahh, now you're qualify to eat me. But let me take out my robes first," said the old man.
The old man took of his robe and revealed a red undergarment.
Nian Defeated By Red
Nian was afraid of seeing red! Nian was so scare that it pleaded with the old man, "Please, I'll do what you say, but please put away that color!"
"Alright, I'll put it away. But you must not harm the people ever again," the old man demanded.
"Yes, yes! I'll do what you say," Nian nodded. "I'll be your humble servant from now on!"
The old man had finally defeated Nian, and went back to the city and told the people that Nian would no longer appear in the city from then onward.
He told the people that Nian is most terrified of red, and so from then on, people would paste red paper on the front door to prevent Nian from coming back again.
Now, you can see Chinese pasting red paper couplets (two rows of writing, usually rhymed.); hanging decorations and paper arts in red and gold; hanging red lattern; giving red packets (Hong Bao); wearing red dresses or clothes etc.
Here, these are some pictures of the 'red' stuffs I've just mentioned:
Simple red paper with bamboo drawing and the word "Peace"
Latterns are usually red in colors
A Chinese lady in red, with Red Packet (Hong Bao)
A sample paper art, with the character "Fu", meaning Luck or Blessings
Another paper art, with the words, "Spring Returned To The Land"2) No Broom And Sweeping, Please!
There was once a man by the name of Ou Ming who was swept away by the storm when the boat in which he travelled in capsized.He was washed ashore on an unknown island. A owner of the island, Qing Hongjun saved him and treated him with great hospitality.
Before Ou Ming left the island, Qing offered a gift to Qu Ming, but on one condition - he can only choose one.
Qing had a big collection of precious stones, gems, jewelleries, gold bars etc, and Ou Ming didn't know how to choose. Qing's servant gave him a hint: Ru Yuan was the real treasure.
Ru Yuan, The Treasure
Ou Ming decided to listen to the servant and asked for Ru Yuan. It turn out to be a beautiful servant girl.
Qing honored the request and sent them off. Before that, Qing gave Ru Yuan a box of jewelleries as the dowry.
When they returned home, Ou Ming treated Ru Yuan well until one day, Ru Yuan gave the jewellery box and the key to Ou Ming saying, "Please do not take me as an outsider. You may keep the box of jewellery."
Ou Ming Changed...
From then onward, Ou Ming changed. He treated Ru Yuan badly; put her to work long hours; hit her whenever he's in foul mood; and served him like a king.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Ou Ming wanted to hit Ru Yuan because she got up late that day.
Ru Yuan ran while Ou Ming kept on chasing. There was a broom outside the compound, and when Ru Yuan ran pass it, she jumped into the broom and vanished since then.
All Gone!
All the jewellery from the box flew and vanished together into the broom!
Ou Ming became a beggar since then.
Therefore, after cleaning the homes on the New Year Eve, the Chinese would hide their brooms, and do not allow sweeping on the New Year day, fearing that it will 'sweep' their fortunes away.
3) The Bamboo Firecracker
The bamboo firecrackers are red in color, in the form of a small cylinder. Most of the time, these small cylinders are tied up together in a line. When lit, it will make quick successive cracks, as one explodes after another.
Decoration made to look like the bamboo fire cracker
There's also a story of how bamboo firecracker is been lit during Chinese New Year.It was said that once, on the mountain full of bamboo grove, lived a group of strange creatures which were only one foot tall and had only one leg.
They Attacked On New Year Day
Anyone passed by the mountain during the New Year day would be attacked and robbed by them.
One one New Year day, these creatures attacked a man, and the man resisted, and managed to capture one of the them and tied up.
The man wanted to bring the creature to the magistrate and when others saw him with the creature, they asked him to release it immediately because it would bring sickness to whoever came near it.
True enough, that man fell into sickness on the spot, and other built some fire to keep him warm. In order to make the fire bigger, they threw in some bamboo pieces into the fire.
Suddenly, there were creatures surrounding them, ready to attack! Before they could come near, the bamboo pieces in the fire exploded and made loud cracking noises.
Defeated By The Cracking Noise!
The creatures were terrified and ran away.
"Aha! So these creatures are afraid of the sounds of burning bamboo tubes! They are so terrified that they have fled, " exclaimed one of the man.
Since then, people would burn bamboo tubes to scare these creatures away. This became a tradition during Chinese New Year - burning bamboo fire cracker to scare away evil beings.
When I was a child, I loved playing fire crackers with friends on Chinese New Year... too bad our government had banned this practice years ago! :(
4) Other Traditions...
There are other Chinese New Year traditions which I didn't write about yet:
1) Writing Spring Couplets
2) Hanging Red Latterns
3) Dragon Lattern Dance
4) Lion Dance
5) Origin Of New Year Cards
6) Red Packets or Ya Shui Money
Perhaps, if I can get more information on these, I would love to share the stories with you.
Up And Coming...
Now, there's another tradition, or rather superstition believed by some Chinese, which is not related to Chinese New Year. I'm doing some research on it now, and I'll write about it in 3 day's time, that is, on the 18 January 2009.
Till then, have a great day, and if you're a Chinese, "Happy Preparing For Chinese New Year!" (I'll wish you Happy CNY on 18 Jan, OK?)
Guan
Tai Chi Breathing
Spa Salt Ginger Oil
Chinese Story Wisdom
Labels: chinese culture, chinese new year, cultural, culture, customs, fire cracker, new year, nian, red, red packet, story, traditions
posted by C. Guan Soo | 19:56
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