How ironic that this year happens to be the year of the tiger! My school mascot is the Tiger, and I intend on going to Tiger Leaping Gorge 虎跳峡 for celebrating this Chinese New Year. So what does the Tiger represent? Well first off it is just one of the 12 animals represented in the 12-year cycle. Supposedly, people born in this year possess the following traits: Adventurous, sensitive, emotional, and risk-taking. Those who are born in the Year of the Tiger are smart, uncomplicated and friendly by nature. They have strong will power and a never give-up attitude.
Chinese New Year 春节 is very similar to the western one, but is just a month later in accordance to the Lunar Calendar instead of the Gregorian Calendar. But the celebrating history of the Chinese New Year is so old and the traditions and meanings are much deeper. Just like Christmas, people start buying presents, decorations, food and clothing about a month in advance. Also, everyone makes the house look spotless just like my family does. However my mom does it just because, whereas Chinese people do it because they are sweeping away bad luck and the old.
The Chinese characters emphasized are happiness, longevity, and wealth. Windows and doors will be adorned with red paper cutouts with these characters written in gold. This holiday is a great time of year to reconcile forgetting all grudges, and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone. Children enjoy this time of year because they receive red-packets 红包 full of money from their parents. This time of gift exchanging and reflection is known as 守岁 Shou Sui.
Some popular phrases:
恭喜发财 gong(1)xi(3)fa(1)cai(2) "Congratulations and be prosperous"
岁岁平安 sui(4)sui(4)ping(2)an(1) "Everlasting peace year after year"
红包拿来! hong(2)bao(1)na(2)lai(2) "Give me a red-packet full of money!"
新年快乐! xin(1)nian(2)kuai(4)le(4) "Happy New Year!"
There is a certain ancient myth that still holds for today and it is about the mythical beast known as Nian who would devour livestock, crops, and even people. The only way to protect oneself from the beast is to celebrate the coming of the New Year and forget about the previous year. This means new clothes, clean home, newly painted window frames, fireworks, festivals, drums, and most importantly food. It was said that if they prepare food and place it in front of the doors for Nian to eat, then it wouldn't attack them anymore.
Symbols:
"During these 15 days of the Chinese New Year one will see superstitious or traditional cultural beliefs with meanings which can be puzzling in the eyes of those who do not celebrate this occasion. There is a customary reason that explains why everything, not just limited to decorations, are centered on the colour red. At times, gold is the accompanying colour for reasons that are already obvious. One best and common example is the red diamond-shaped posters with the character 福 (pinyin: fú), or "auspiciousness" which are displayed around the house and on doors. This sign is usually seen hanging upside down, since the Chinese word 倒 (pinyin: dào), or "upside down", sounds the same as 到 (pinyin: dào), or "arrive". Therefore, it symbolizes the arrival of luck, happiness, and prosperity.
Red is the predominant colour used in New Year celebrations. Red is the emblem of joy, and this colour also symbolizes virtue, truth and sincerity. On the Chinese opera stage, a painted red face usually denotes a sacred or loyal personage and sometimes a great emperor. Candies, cakes, decorations and many things associated with the New Year and its ceremonies are coloured red. The sound of the Chinese word for “red” ( 紅) is “hong” which also means “prosperous.” Therefore, red is an auspicious colour and has an auspicious sound."
Flowers have much symbolism and are another great decoration during the Chinese New Year.
Floral Decor Meaning
Plum Blossom symbolizes luck
Kumquat symbolizes prosperity
Narcissus symbolizes prosperity
Chrysanthemum symbolizes longevity
Bamboo a plant used for any time of year
Sunflower means to have a good year
Eggplant a plant to heal all of your sickness
Chom Mon Plant a plant which gives you tranquility
I look forward to experiencing the celebrations firsthand as I will be in Yunnan province for 7 of the 15 days in which the New Year festivities will be held. The ethnic minority groups have unique ways of celebrating this holiday and I am excited to see what it will be like. Wishing everyone a Happy Lunar New Year! Go Tigers!
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