GUNG HAY FAT CHOY
Or should I say Happy Chinese New Year. It really feels more like the real New Year’s since January has come and gone so fast. With the exception of a couple years ago, Chinese New Year’s always occurs in the months of January or February because its based on the first day of the first lunar month. Confusing huh. At least the world uses the Gregorian calendar and not just USA like all the other measurements we follow.
This year is the year of the Ox. The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. This powerful sign is a born leader, being quite dependable and possessing an innate ability to achieve great things. Ox’s are dependable, calm, and modest. Like their animal namesake, the Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in their work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint. Sounds like we need more Ox’s in the world.
So what are some things you can do to bring good luck to your home and your life this year. Well in Chinese tradition, you’re pretty much concentrating on taking out bad spirits like cleaning your house and scaring them with firecrackers. And so you want to bring in the new good spirits for the year by opening up your windows or eating sweets for a sweet year and changing things up like new bed sheets and covers. Another big thing that bothers many people is not washing your hair the day of New Years. Supposedly it washes away the good luck you possess. But I asked my mom about it and she barely follows any of the traditions anymore. I guess with our family being first generation in America has really changed things up.
But one thing she still follows and all married couple do is give out red envelopes. Anything red was a mythological story told way back when in the village when this huge creature called Nian, use to come at the beginning of the year into the village and eat all the livestock. So every year, families would put a plate of food outside their house in order to feed the creature. It was also told that kids wearing red clothes had scared it away, along with loud sounds like firecrackers. So thats how most of the common things you see at a Chinese New Year parade came about.
Back to the red envelopes. Tradition is said that if you are married, you must give out red envelopes to family members who aren’t and also whoever comes to visit your home. It goes with the tradition of eating sweets. The red envelopes should only contain a few fresh new dollar bills to go and buy candy. But since this is America and inflation has been on the rise, you could get lucky and get maybe a few $5 or $10 bills in the red envelopes. Unfortunately, the older you get, the less money comes your way. But still my favorite tradition. Of course lion dancing is a close second.
GUNG HAY FAT CHOY! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
What are your favorite traditions about Chinese New Years? How will you celebrate?
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Tags: chinese new year, red envelope, year of the ox
