Chinese New Year – Amy H.
As you might be aware, our Chinese community has been celebrating Chinese New Year these days, also known as the Spring Festival, which is one of the most important traditional festivals in China. It marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and is a time for family, celebration, and renewal. Let me tell you why this festival is so meaningful, what we usually do during this time, and a little about the Year of the Snake, one of the 12 zodiac animals.
Firstly, Chinese New Year is as vital to us as Christmas is to Europeans and it is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and history. It has been celebrated for thousands of years, originally to honor deities and ancestors. The festival symbolises the start of a new year and is associated with wishes for good luck, health, and prosperity. It’s also a time for family reunions, which is why it’s often called the largest annual human migration, as millions of people travel home to be with loved ones. If I were in China, I would travel across the country to spend it with my grandparents.
During the celebration, there are many traditions and customs. It usually begins with a thorough house cleaning before New Year’s Day. This is believed to sweep away bad luck and make room for good fortune. Families also decorate their homes with red banners and window stickers that display wishes for happiness and success. Red is the dominant colour because it’s considered a symbol of good luck and protection against sickness.
On New Year’s Eve, families gather for a big feast. This meal is one of the highlights of the festival, with dishes that hold special meanings. For example, dumplings represent wealth, as their shape resembles ancient Chinese coins, and fish symbolizes abundance because the word for “fish” sounds like “surplus” in Chinese. After the meal, people often stay up late to welcome the New Year, a tradition known as “shou sui.”
Chinese New Year is also closely tied to the Chinese zodiac, which features 12 animals, one for each year in a repeating cycle, these animals stand for different characters. For instance, this year is the year of the snake, People born in the Year of the Snake are thought to be intelligent, wise, and elegant. If you know someone born in a Snake year, like 1977, 1989, 2001, or 2013, they are seen as deep thinkers and problem solvers.
Firecrackers and fireworks are another iconic part of Chinese New Year. According to legend, they were used to scare away a mythical beast called “Nian shou” which was a cross between a dragon and a lion. Even today, the loud noises are thought to scare away the ‘Nian beast’.
For children, the festival is extra special because of the red envelopes, or “hongbao,” they receive. These envelopes contain money and are a symbol of blessings for the year ahead. For example, I usually get 100 pounds from each close relative every year. Some of you may have found the red envelopes in chapel under your seats on Thursday.
Chinese New Year is more than just a celebration. It’s a time to reflect on the past year, strengthen family bonds, and look forward to the future with hope and positivity. It is also a way for Chinese people all over the world to feel a sense of community. Finally, I wish you all a happy Chinese New Year.
新年快乐
Post Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.