Today marks the beginning of the 2012 Chinese New Year...The Year of the Dragon. The dragon symbolizes power, strength, and good fortune.The Chinese New Year is said to have started out of fear -- according to legend, it started with a fight against a mythical beast named Nian. Nian would come on the first day of each new year to feast on livestock, crops, and villagers. It was said to especially like to feast on children.
To protect themselves, villagers were said to have placed food in front of the doors of their homes at the beginning of every new year. It was believed that after Nian ate the food that had been prepared, he would no longer attack.
The villagers were also said to wear and/or display the color red. Legends say the color scared off Nian. Legends also states that firecrackers (originally bamboo stalks filled with gun powder) were used to make loud noises that were said to frighten away Nian from homes and villages.
The Chinese New Year will end with the Lantern Festival this year, on February 6th, 2012.
Over the next fifteen days, I'll try to post information daily regarding the significance of the fifteen days of the festival. Having a Chinese-American daughter, we feel it is important to incorporate some Chinese traditions and celebrations into our lives and the life of our daughter. For instance, prior to the new year we cleaned the house, got haircuts, and bought new outfits to wear...symbolizing a "fresh start." On the Chinese New Years Eve we had our own "feast" and today, on the start of the new year, we handed out traditional "red envelopes" (containing money) to both of our children. Some of the traditions and celebrations we choose to incorporate into our lives...others seem a bit out-dated or "far-fetched" so we choose not to include those. We do what we think means the most to us as a family, and that we believe will mean something to our children not only today but also as they grow older.
Here is some of what is said to traditionally take place/occur on Day 1 of the Chinese New Year:
- The welcoming of the deities of heavens and earth, officially beginning at midnight
- Honoring of one's elders
- Visiting with family and friends
- Avoiding the use of knives, the lighting of fires, and the cleaning of the home (said to bring back luck)
- Lighting of fireworks (to ward off evil spirits) and the opening of all windows/doors at midnight (to let the old year out and the new year in)
- Married members of the family who are married give traditional red envelopes, containing money, to younger members of the family. Business managers also give bonuses through the use of red envelopes to employees -- signifying good luck and wealth.
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| Flowers...said to add beauty and good fortune to a home. (I added water for a dramatic photo effect!) |
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| "Feisty Girl" in her New Years Day dress |
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| "Little Man" in his Dragon shirt |
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| Traditional red envelopes - Containing money for the kids |
1 comment:
Happy Chinese New Year to you as well, Mr. Lonely. Thank you for stopping by our family blog -- come back any time!
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