Chinese Tutor - Fortune, luck and joy

CITYLIFE / Odds & Ends






Fortune, luck and joy

(Beijing Weekend)
Updated: 2007-02-19 10:16





Spring Festival, the most important holiday for the Chinese, marking the
start of the lunar new year, is built on tradition and an array of
centuries old customs.

The celebrations begin on new year's eve, which falls on February 17 this
year, and continues for two weeks until the Lantern Festival, on the 15th
day of the first lunar month, or March 4.

Just as people spend weeks, and sometimes months, preparing for
Christmas, the Chinese prepare for this family reunion festival a long
time in advance. They hit the shops, clean their homes and stock up on
everything from oil and rice to fruit, candies, nuts, new clothes and
shoes for the children and gifts for the elderly, friends and relatives.
People decorate their homes to create a festival atmosphere. Two things
that should never be forgotten are spring couplets (chunlian) and
firecrackers. In a typical Chinese home, you will see all the door panels
pasted with spring couplets, Chinese calligraphy on red paper, as well as
fireworks in bunches resting in the corner of the room. These are two
basic tools required to expel evil, especially the Nian monster.





Chinese use the term guonian (pass the year) to describe their happiness
at celebrating the year, as guo means "passing" and "survival". While
nian was originally the name of a beast who came to the village to prey
on humans on new year's eve.

Legend had it that the Nian had an enormous mouth that can swallow
hundreds of people with just one bite. Although a powerful monster, it
was afraid of two things the "magic" peach-wood charms hung on the gate
of each home and fireworks. When the firecrackers were lit, the monster
fled. At new year, people continue to celebrate this auspicious event.
Family members lay on a large spread for the new year banquet.
Traditional food is prepared for family and friends. Although food and
dishes vary according to where you are in China, dishes such as chicken
(ji), fish (yu) and tofu (doufu) are essential elements in any new year
feast as, in Chinese, these words sound like auspiciousness (ji),
abundance (yu), and rich blessings (duofu).

People in the north of China traditionally eat jiaozi, or dumplings, on
new year's eve.
The first five days of the lunar month are considered a good time for
relatives and friends to visit each other's homes, exchange greetings,
gifts and chat, as well as going out socializing, taking part in fun
activities like lion dances, lantern shows and temple fairs.


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