Spring Festival or Chinese New Year
Spring festival (or Chinese New Year) is celebrated in the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar or Lunar calendar. This festival marks the end of winter and start of the Spring season.
In this article, Iâll explain the following:
- Countries where Spring Festival or Chinese New Year is celebrated.
- Why Chinese love the colour red.
- When Spring Festival is celebrated and it historical background.
- Chinese dinner customs and mode of greeting.
Now letâs get goingâŚ
Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in China. It is also celebrated in countries or regions with many Chinese population such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myammar, Thailand, Cambodia, Mauritius, Philippines, North America and Europe. Chinese love the colour red because it stands for happiness and good fortune.
When is Spring Festival celebrated?
The first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon which appears between January 21 and February 20. The celebration traditionally take place from New Year Eve, the evening preceding the first day of the year to the Lantern festival held on the 15th day of the year. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly clean their house, in other to sweep away any ill fortune and to make way for incoming good luck.
Historical Background
In ancient times, there was a monster named Nian. It usually lives at the bottom of the sea and comes up once in a year to feast on animals and humans. On this day, the villagers would all escape to the mountains. Nian is a horned beast, a mix between dragon and kirin.
One year a beggar came to seek shelter but everyone was hurrying away. Only an old woman took him in and he promised to chase away Nian. He busied himself with decorating the homes. At midnight, Nian came in but stopped short when it saw the red paper on the doors. As it roared in anger, fire crackers suddenly sounded and it trembled in fear. When it saw the beggar, dressed in red laughing at it, it ran away.
The villagers came back the following day and they were surprised that their house was still standing. They realized that noises and the colours red were Nianâs kryptonite. This is why families eat dinner in their homes fortified with red decorations.
The image of monster Nian
At midnight fire crackers were sounded, people also wear new and festive red clothing for celebration.
Dinners Customs
Chinese place great importance on the New Year Eve dinner or Reunion dinner. All family members must come back. If they canât the rest of the family will leave a empty spot for them and place a spare set of utensils for them.
Part of the food enjoyed are spring rolls, dumplings, pork and shrimp, long noodles, eggs, lobster, shrimp, roasted pig, duck, tofu, peaches, steamed fish, steamed chicken, rice cake, hot pot, vegetables (seaweed, lotus seeds, bamboo shot, osmanthus flower petals, leek, paria mushrooms, cabbage, green onions).
At Home
Whether it takes place at home or in a restaurant, the seating arrangement is always set.
If the traditional table is used, there will be 4 benches. Each seats 8 people. The eldest sits in the north, facing the south. Then in descending order, people are seated in the west and lastly south. There are assigned seats in each bench as well on the northern bench, the leftmost is the most important guest. The right side is reserved for the host. For eastern and western benches, the ones closer to the north are usually older (or more important). It is more causal for the southern bench.
At Restaurant
The round tables in Chinese restaurants usually seat 8 to 12 people. If in a private room, the innermost and centered table is reserved for the highest ranks. The host sits on the right while the most important guest sit on the left. For the other tables, the arrangement is similar as at home.
If eating with elders, never stick your chopstick straight in your bowl. It is polite to keep your elbows on the table while eating. You should make sure you eat everything on your plate. The Chinese (especially the grand parents, aunties and uncles) have a habit of asking questions that make foreigners cringe or uncomfortable because they care and concern.
Mode of Greeting
Chinese culture is based on Confucianism that places emphasis on manners, politeness and respect. Age, status and rank are ingrained in actions, especially during the Chinese New Year Festival. During the New Year you must visit the eldest (elders from the husband side) in the family first and you must go with gifts. In return, the grand parents and elders will give the younger generation red envelopes that contains money.
The money is a money to anchor the new year. By doing this the elders are hoping to passing a year good fortune and blessings. Before you can receive the money, you must perform 3 kowtows to the elders. Kowtow means to knock your head against the floor. You kneel and place your hands on the ground before you. Bend and rest your head between your hands. This is the ultimate show of respect.
All in all, despite the complicated rules and social customs, Chinese New Year is a time of celebration. It spans a total of 15 days with different activities for each day, culminating in the Lantern festival with several styles of lanterns from basic shapes like spheres to lotus and even dragon! Even if the other ancient traditions of Spring Festival are modernized, the food culture will never disappear.
