Chinese New Year starts with the New moon on the first
day of the first lunar month and ends on the Full moon 15 days later.
First day, zhengyue 1, ’Birthday of Chicken’
The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the
first lunar month (Traditional Chinese: 正月; Pinyin: zhēngyuè) in the Chinese
calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival.
The first day of the New Year is known as Yuan Dan (Chinese:
元旦;
pinyin: yuándàn (First Morning of the year), New Year’s Day, First Day (or Duan
Ri).
During the 15 day period new year visits (Traditional
Chinese: 拜年;
pinyin: bài nián, translated: pay respect, worship, salute the year) will be
made to family and friends.
On the first day, the oldest and most senior members will be
visited, the visits serve to strengthen family ties. Bài nián refers to both,
pay a New Year's call as well as 'wishing somebody a Happy New Year'.
There is also the tradition of welcoming guests with tea and
sweet treats, such as sugared
fruits which are supposed to sweeten one’s upcoming year. Sweets and
fruits are served on a round or octagonal tray - the form resembling
togetherness and hence the tray is most commonly translated as the "Tray
of Togetherness".
Most likely the amount of sweets will be arranged in eight
units, as the number eight symbolises luck. At times, an arrangement of nine
units can be found, the number represents wealth, good fortune and family unity
(note that for the Chinese the number '8' is a lucky one and for the Thai-
Chinese it is as well the number '9').
The visitor will bring a small gift to the household which
will be visited- usually oranges, tangerines, mandarins or such alike, as the
fruit symbolises gold, hence wealth and good fortune.
The day symbolises as well a new start in one’s life,
refreshing hopes for prosperity, wealth and happiness.
The first day of the first lunar month is characterised by
different names:
New Year: Traditional Chinese:新年, Pinyin: xīnnián
Spring Festival: Traditional Chinese: 春 節
Pinyin: chūn jié
Agricultural
calendar new year, based on farmers' experiences (Traditional Chinese:
农历新年 ,
Pinyin: nóng lì xīnnián). Historically the calendar was sponsored by the
Emperor. Not only did a calendar serve practical needs in agriculture as in
when to plant to receive the best results, but even more did the calendar show
the connection between the Heaven and the Imperial Court.
A traditional Buddhist vegetarian dish called
"Jai" (Traditional Chinese: 羅漢齋 or 齋; pinyin: luóhàn zhāi) or Buddha's
delight is prepared on the first day of Chinese New Year using eighteen
different ingredients as the Chinese believe eighteen to be a lucky number
signifying wealth and prosperity (Traditional Chinese: 羅漢全齋; pinyin: luóhàn
quánzhā). Of course, each single one of the ingredient represents a certain
symbolic meaning.
Abstaining from meat consumption on the first day is
believed to enhance longevity. Additionally, a vegetarian dish helps to purify
and cleanse out the body as well as it honors a Buddhist tradition that nothing
living should be killed on the first day of the New Year. (See
also: Food Symbolism)
According to a Chinese legend, Nüwa (Traditional Chinese: 女媧;
Simplified Chinese: 女娲; Pinyin: nǚwā) is the goddess who created the world. She
created certain animals on different days, hence each day is considered the
birthday of the corresponding animal. Human beings were created from yellow clay
on the seventh day after the creation of the world.
Lion
Dances can be seen on the street, or a troupe might be invited to
perform on private premises.
During the Chinese New Year Festivals, Chinese operas
and Dragon
Dances will be performed in the streets.
Second day, zhengyue 2, ‘Birthday of Dog’
People say that after being offered sacrifices, Tsai
Shen, the God of Wealth, leaves for heaven on the second day of the lunar
New Year.
People will burn the picture they welcomed on the New Year’s
Eve and see the deity off, wishing for a luckier and more prosperous year.
In honour of the deity, people will eat wonton, resembling
the shape of a ingot.
Traditionally married women will visit and pay respect to
their birth parents.
On the second day, the Chinese pray to their ancestors as
well as to all the gods.
Since the day is characterised by the birthday of the dogs,
pets and strays will be fed well.
Third day, zhengyue 3, ‘Birthday of Pig’
Families who had an immediate relative deceased in the past
3 years will not go house-visiting as a form of respect to the dead. The third
day of the New Year is allocated to grave-visiting instead. Some people
conclude it is inauspicious to do any house visiting at all, as it is believed
that evil spirits roam the earth this day and hence it would be bad luck to be
outdoors.
Businesses which had been closed during the prior
festivities will be reopened and prayers will be held in order to be blessed
with prosperity in the upcoming year. Conservative Chinese businesses do not
open until after the fifth day due to priviously mentioned roaming ghosts.
Fourth Day, zhengyue 4, ‘Birthday of Sheep’
The fourth day is basically a continuity of the third day.
Fifth day, zhengyue 5, ‘Birthday of Ox, Cattle’
The day is regarded as the birthday of
the God of Wealth and hence respect is payed to the god. Also, it is considered
not too wise to leave the house for too long, just in case the God of Wealth
should pay a visit to the family's house.
All businesses will be reopened on that day.
Sweeping the floor is not considered bad luck anymore.
In northern China, people eat Jiǎozi (dumplings) on the
morning of pò wǔ (Traditional Chinese: 破五, Pinyin: pò wǔ, translated: break
five).
Friends and classmates will be visited.
The day is as well considered to have a connection to the
five basic colours,
hence to the Five
Elements Theory.
SIx day, zhengyue 6, ‘Birthday of Horse’
The sixth day marks a time to visit temples, relatives and
friends.
Seventh day, zhengyue 7, ‘Birthday of Men’
The seventh day of the first lunar month is named renrì
(Traditional Chinese: 人日, Pinyin: rén rì), literally Human Day and is considered
to be the birthday of ordinary, or common men. The day is also called Day of
Men or Men Day.
According to Chinese legends, Nüwa (Traditional Chinese: 女媧;
Simplified Chinese: 女娲; Pinyin: nǚwā) is the goddess who created the world. Two
legends refer to her creations.
Nüwa and her brother Fuxi survived
a devastating calamity, which had wiped out all other life. Retired to Kunlun
Mountain they prayed for a sign from the Emperor of Heaven. The divine being
approved their union and the siblings set about procreating the human race.
Note: in some texts or according to other legends, Nüwa is
considered to be Fuxi’s wife.
According to a different legend Nüwa created certain animals
on different days as she was lonesome and wanted the animals as company. On the
seventh day after the creation of the world, Nüwa created human beings
from yellow clay.
With the divine power entrusted to her, Nüwa made the clay figurines to become
alive.
Renri is the day, when all common men are growing a year
older and the day is celebrated with certain foods according to the origin of
the people.
The ingredients of the dishes have a symbolic meaning and
they should enhance health.
To honour Nüwa's creation of animals either vegetable dishes
will be eaten or a raw fish and vegetable salad called yusheng (simplified
Chinese: 鱼生;
pinyin: yúshēng).
Yusheng literally means "raw fish" but since
"fish (鱼)"
is commonly conflated with its homophone "abundance (余)",
Yúshēng (鱼生)
is interpreted as a homonym for Yúshēng (余升) meaning an increase in abundance.
Therefore, yusheng is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor.
Traditional Chinese: 余, Pinyin: yú, translated: extra;
surplus; remaining)
Traditional Chinese: 升, Pinyin: shēng, translated: to
raise; to hoist; to promote)
Eighth day - The Completion Day
On the eighth day the Fujian people have another family
reunion dinner, and at midnight they pray to theJade
Emperor.
Ninth day
The birthday of
the Jade
Emperor, highly revered in taoist
believe. The Jade Emperor is also known as the Yù Huáng or Yù Dì, and is
identified as the God of Heaven, the Ruler of all Heavens (of which the Chinese
have over 30), Earth and the Underworld/ Hell, Creator of the Universe, later
the Emperor of the Universe, and Lord of the Imperial Court. He is said to have
been born several millennia before our era as the offspring of the King of the Pure
Felicity Kingdom of Lofty Heavenly Majestic Lights and Ornaments and of the
Empress of Precious Moonlight.
From the Tenth to the Twelfth Day
of New Year there is more feasting with friends and family.
Thirteenth day
A time to diet a bit after so much rich food, vegetarian
food like rice and mustard greens are eaten to cleanse the digestive systems.
Forteenth day, The Lantern Decoration Day
Preparations will be made for the Lantern Festival.
Fifteenth day, Lantern Festival
(Traditional Chinese: 元宵節 , Pinyin: yuán xiāo jié,
literally: first night festival)
The 15th day marks the first full moon after the Spring
Festival and of the New Year, also known as yuán xiāo jié meaning "first
night of the full moon". The day is as well known as Lantern Festival day.
Another reunion dinner is held with lanterns and oranges
being a large part of the celebrations.
It is customary to eat special sweet dumplings called
yuanxiao resembling the shape of the full moon. These round balls are made of
glutinous rice flour stuffed with sugar fillings, symbolizing reunion.
Yuanxiao are also called tāngyuán (Traditional Chinese: 湯圓,
Simplified Chinese: 汤圆
) or tāngtuán (Traditional Chinese: 湯團, Simplified Chinese: 汤团).
Tāngyuán literally means "round balls in soup",
tāngtuán translates to "round dumplings in soup".
During this festival lanterns are displayed, at times as
lantern fairs, and children are carrying lanterns to temples.
The festival is associated with guiding lost and ill bred
evil spirits home, while celebrating and cultivating positive relationship
between people, families, nature and the higher beings as they are believed to
be responsible for bringing and returning the light each year.
Another legend associates the Lantern Festival with Taoism.
Tian Guan is the Taoist 'Ruler of Heaven' and the god responsible for good
fortune, bestowing wealth and good luck. His birthday falls on the 15th day of
the first lunar month. It is said that Tian Guan likes all types of
entertainment, so followers prepare various kinds of activities during which
they pray for good fortune.
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