Very soon, it shall be Chinese New Year (also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival) which runs for 25 days and is the biggest event on the Lunar calendar.
Chinese New Year falls after the Winter Solstice when there’s a new moon and ends on the 15th day (also known as the Lantern Festival) when it’s a full moon.
And this year, it’s the year of the Ox and Chinese New Year will begin on February 12 2021 and will run for 15 days, it’s a time for Chinese people to not only honour their ancestors & deities but to also reunite with their family members and loved ones as well.
But why Ox?
According to legends, the Jade Emperor wanted a calendar system created and so he ordered 12 animals to race against each other across a river, and the clever and cunning rat encountered the ox who was already ahead and asked if he could jump onto the ox’s back (in which he didn’t mind), but then the rat shot across the ox and across the river and succeeded in winning the race.
The rat came first followed by the ox (who was tricked by the rat) followed by the quick tiger, the hopping rabbit, the dragon (who was noticed by the Jade Emperor), the crafty snake, then the modest horse and goat followed by the monkey (who had fallen way behind but eventually ended up becoming ninth) and after the monkey, the rooster, dog and (the lazy) pig came in last but each of these animals eventually became part of the zodiac system we know today.
So now we have the zodiac system settled, how this important 15 day celebrations came about is (according to popular myths), largely thanks to ancient times where a monster called “Nian”, a lion-like monster who’ll descend onto a village to feast on it’s livestocks (and in some variations even include humans as well) and therefore, the villagers will run up to the mountains to escape Nian come New Year eve.
However as they all escaped to the mountain, an old man was busily forfeiting his home with red decorations and firecrackers in preparation of Nian’s arrival (variations of the story include him being taken in by a kind old woman who he promises to fend off the monster) and when Nian eventually arrived, he stopped short of her house upon seeing the red decorations and when the firecrackers sounded off, the monster began to tremble in fear and upon being scared, Nian then saw the old man dressed all in red and it eventually ran away with the old man laughing at the scared monster.
The next day, when the villagers returned, they were surprised at what the old man had done and begun to follow in his footsteps by hanging red decorations to forfeit their homes from Nian as well stringing firecrackers that’ll go off when midnight hit after they’ve had dinner the evening before. And they would also dress up in red to further scare Nian every year he descended to terrorise them.
It’s why every Chinese New Year, Asian households would string up red decorations and firecrackers whilst dressing up in red clothing and consume together on the evening during New Year’s Eve.
But myths aside, celebration of Chinese New Year & it’s rituals are said to date all the way back to the ancient reigns of the legendary Chinese Emperors, Emperor Yao (2356-2255 BCE) and Shun (~2294-2184 BCE) of the Three Sovereigns & Five Emperors (c 2825-c 2070 BCE) period of ancient China but when it came to the imperial (and second dynasty of China) Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD), the first date of the first month of the traditional Lunar calendar was then designated as the date for Chinese New Year by Emperor Wu (157BC-87BC) of the Han Dynasty.
During the reigns of Emperor Yao & his successor, Emperor Shun, Chinese New Year started off as a small scale of celebratory activities before it got developed into a festival of religious observance during the ancient Shang Dynasty (c 1600-c 1046 BC) and then eventually, the date for Chinese New Year was eventually designated by Emperor Wu of Han and crack bamboo appeared before fireworks was used & the practice of “Shou Sui” (the practice of staying together as the year changes) was formed during the Cao Wei (220-266) & Jin Dynasties (266-420). Later on during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) it saw gunpowder used for fireworks during Chinese New Year.
As with Chinese New Year, there are many rituals and traditions tied to the festival including the ones I’ve already aforementioned with red lanterns and papers being brought out to decorate buildings and houses alongside firecrackers and other CNY related decorations and during the Spring Festival, elders and married couples hand out Ang Pow’s/Hong Bao’s (red packets) to the young members of the family as well.
However prior to Chinese New Year, the home is given a sweep and a clean to remove the ills the previous years (it’s considered unlucky to do so during the festive period).
During Chinese New Year eve, family members and their loved ones reunite (after having travelled back in what is one of the biggest annual human migration event) for a reunion dinner and come midnight when Chinese New Year eventually does arrive, firecrackers go off and fireworks lit up the night sky heralding the arrival of a brand new year on the Lunar Calendar.
And on the morning of Chinese New Year, family members will happily each other with “Gong Xi Fa Chai” (that’s the Mandarin version) or “Gong Hei Fat Choy (the Cantonese version) with their hands in a fist and palm gesture whilst exchanging gifts and wearing their new clothes and outfits as oppose to the other ones in their wardrobe as Chinese New Year is a time to farewell the previous year and it’s ills.
Chinese New Year songs (similar to Christmas carols) would be played in households, malls and businesses as well during this period and are delightful to listen to.
Then for the next 14 days, various rituals and traditions occur ranging from ancestor worship to visiting family relatives and friends to celebrate the occasion together, attend various dinners and to also perform “Lo Hei” (Cantonese for scooping it up) of Yee Sang/Yusheng (a raw fish salad common during the Chinese New Year period).
The purpose of this “Lo Hei” (or Prosperity Tossing) is for those presented at the dinner table (or diners at a restaurant) to enthusiastically pick up the salad and toss it high with special long chopsticks since it’s believed that the higher the tossing goes, it’s symbolic of the wish of those present at the tossing for their fortunes to grow during the year which is why the more enthusiastic they are during the tossing, the better.
The Yee sang/Yusheng is a raw fish salad (and the one’s I’ve tossed in the past have involved salmon) with pickled vegetables and sauces that are then mixed by having it tossed by those present as they say various phrases and words during the prosperity tossing in hope of bringing good luck and fortune for the year.
Other rituals and traditions include welcoming & farewelling Tsai Shen (the Chinese God of Fortune and Wealth) who is celebrated, worshipped and welcomed into the homes and businesses by the Chinese with firecrackers and an offering table out the front with flowers, an incense pot with incense sticks, candles, fruits, snacks and other important offerings one would normally make for Tsai Shen prior to his arrival.
Firecrackers normally go off to welcome Tsai Shen and (according to legends) he’s believed to descend from Heaven to inspect his followers during Chinese New Year.
Lion dances can also be used to accompany the ceremony as well and sometimes there’ll be a mascot of the God to attend the celebrations in which they’ll be given a red envelope by the business employers.
Along with ancestor worshipping, welcoming Tsai Shen, visiting relatives and friends to exchange gifts like the Hong Bao’s, as well as attend May reunion dinners whether it’s done at home or at Chinese restaurants.
Buddhist temples are busy during this period with beautiful CNY decorations that draws in temple-goers (particularly during the Jade Emperor’s birthday on the 9th day of Chinese New Year) to light incense & gain blessings from the temple deities.
Commonly in Asian countries, Chinese New Year related performances, songs and television shows will play through the festive period mixed with lion and dragon dances and even a mascot of Tsai Shen will make an appearance as well.
Large shopping centres and malls (predominantly in Asian countries) would also be richly decorated in Chinese New Year decorations and there’ll be various performances and festivities, CNY singing shows and a God of Fortune walkabout alongside special Lunar New Year related discounts, promotions and chance to win rewards and prizes depending on how much you spent at the malls (as well as lion and dragon dances that are central to the Chinese New Year festivities at large shopping centres and malls).
And during the Chinese New Year period, foods such as fish, rice cakes (niangao) and dumplings are consumed with each having their own symbolic meanings (fish is an increase in prosperity, niangao is higher income and dumplings is of great wealth). Other foods consumed during this festive period include spring rolls and hot pots (a favourite of Qing Dynasty Emperor’s including the Qianlong Emperor & the Jiaqing Emperor) and Chinese restaurants would prepare handsomely priced banquets completed with Yee sang, Abalone dishes and sweet desserts (amongst other delicious dishes) during the Spring Festival as well (and it’s quite popular for them to hold lion dances for their lucky patrons who are dining in as well).
And speaking of lion dances, they’re a highly recognisable icon of Chinese New Year with their adorable faces and colourful bodies being performed by highly skilled and professionally trained performers mimicking a lion’s movements. Coming in various colours ranging from gold to red and even orange and purple, these lions are invited to not only shopping centres and malls, but also private homes (for open houses-which are common during Chinese New Year) but also to temples and privately operated businesses as well (provided they can afford for the performance-and it can be expensive).
There, they perform what is known as “Cai Qing” which means “plucking the greens”, with the lions plucking away the auspicious green vegetable that’s hanging by a red rope by the ceiling before throwing the pieces to everyone for good luck, prosperity and good fortune.
However, prior to their performances, it’s common practice (& has remained a long-lasting tradition) to dot the eyes of the lions and is normally done by the important figures present at the performance.
Mandarins, pineapples and pomelo will also be used in the performance with the lions opening up the pomelo on a red plate and throw the mandarins to the spectators of the show along with a pineapple to whoever is the lucky one to catch them.
Those paying the lion dance troupe to perform “cai qing” can up the difficulty in terms of the lions plucking the greens but should also simultaneously increase the rewards within the Hong Pao (that’s attached to the auspicious green vegetable) for the troupe for having succeeded in the task.
Of course, it isn’t just ground performances, as lion dance troupes can also host an acrobatic lion dance performance as well, only performed by the most skilled and most well-trained martial artist to be able to jump on poles and dance to the rhythmic drum, gongs and cymbals at the same time but it can make for an incredible show to watch.
And it isn’t just plucking away at the greens that being strung from the ceiling or to dance acrobatically and skilfully on poles, lion dancers can also climb up a long pole to retrieve a banner with Chinese New Year phrases inscribed on it, but must be exceptionally well-trained as it requires one dancer only and they must be able to hold onto the pole whilst continuing to dance at the same time.
I’ve seen it happen before and it’s incredibly breathtaking.
Without exception, lion dances are extremely popular and sought after during the Chinese New Year period and they can be accompanied by a Big Head Buddha and/or Tsai Shen (the Chinese God of Fortune) as well.
Another popular performance that’s also sought-after during Chinese New Year (although this one is normally done in a bigger area than lion dancing) is none other than dragon dancing, which is a long body of a Chinese dragon using poles that requires several troupe members to simultaneously manoeuvre together in a coordinated fashion and one to carry an object known as the “Pearl of Wisdom” around for the dragon to chase after as a symbol of the dragon’s continuing chase for wisdom and knowledge, and the skilled performers manoeuvre a motionless serpentine like body swirling up and down with curving and flowing movements as it seeks to chase the ball in front of it.
And with regards to dragon dance, be on the lookout for odd joints (which are said to be auspicious) and so therefore, craftsmen create such dragons that are either 9 joints, or 11 joints or even a 13-jointed dragon due to their auspiciousness.
And the Chinese dragon, much similar to the lion (and often both get confused & mixed up) are used in Chinese New Year to drive away evil spirits and ghosts and to bring good luck, and it’s believed that the longer the body is of the dragon, the greater the prosperity and good luck, which is why Chinese communities purposefully design very long dragons for their performances.
And unlike their fierce European counterparts, the dragon (Long) in imperial and ancient times was seen as a benevolent yet powerful and mightily respected spirit and was associated as a symbol of the Chinese Emperor (often embroidered on their robes and ceremonial attire and only the Emperor was granted this privilege whereas the Empress was associated with the Phoenix-Fenghuang), it was also believed that dragons controlled the rain and before it became popular during ceremonial and festive occasions, the dance was performed as the highest mark of respect in hope the dragon could befall rain on farmers and those living in villages which relied on rain for their crop survival.
And in further proof of the ancient belief that dragons held control of water and rain, there’s even the ancient Chinese and Buddhist mythology regarding the four dragon King’s of the four seas as well (but I digress…)
Now, it’s used more as a dance performed during Chinese New Year and other special festivals often accompanying lion dancing as well and both have become incredibly popular especially with regards to Chinese New Year parades that take place in cities with large Chinese populations, street performances as well as during temple festivities outside of the Spring Festival.
Along with lion and dragon dancing, there are also important religious worship during Chinese New Year including Tsai Shen (as already mentioned) and Yu Di (the Jade Emperor).
On the ninth day of Chinese New Year, Taoists celebrate the Jade Emperor’s birthday, the ruler of the 33 heavens (according to Taoist/Daoist beliefs) and a supreme deity in the Taoist pantheon. Temples dedicated to Yu Di perform the ritual “bai Tian Gong” (heavenly worship).
On this deeply important religious day, worshippers of the Taoist King of 33 heavens prepare an offering table of vegetarian goods (for the Jade Emperor) and non-vegetarian goods (for his heavenly soldiers) as well. Incense sticks and flowers and other suitable offerings adorn the table and in Malaysia, the Hokkien people adorn their offering tables with sugarcanes and pineapples and why sugarcanes? Well, it’s according to legends that a group of Hokkien individuals risked being hunted down by the Mongols in China during the Song Dynasty and so they hid in sugarcane plantations, hoping to not be captured and their efforts were successful and emerged from their hiding spot on the ninth day of Chinese New Year, which so happened to be the Jade Emperor’s birthday.
And so therefore, the Hokkien refugees believed that they were saved by divine intervention and so their descendants buy sugarcanes as part of their celebrations during the Jade Emperor’s birthday.
Devotees flock to Yu Di temples to offer him goods and prayers, pray to him for blessings for the year ahead (this period is also known as the Hokkien New Year as well) and to prostrate to the Jade Emperor hoping to receive not only his blessings but also to appease him as well.
Also around this time of the year, devotees and worshippers would offer Zao Jun (the Kitchen God) sweets (especially sticky sweets) in hope of appeasing and sweetening him up or to make his mouth sticky to the point that he won’t be able to report back to the Jade Emperor (the Kitchen/Stove God is one of his assistants) of the family’s behaviours the previous year (think of Santa and his lists) and this is done for the Jade Emperor to decide whether to punish or reward them for the new year ahead.
Soon after two weeks of colourful celebrations, magnificent performances, epic street parades, sporadic firecrackers being lit throughout the festive period, important religious worshipping & worshipping of one’s ancestors alongside reuniting with loved ones, friends & relatives with countless reunion dinners and prosperity tossing and more, Chinese New Year comes to an end in a beautiful manner, concluding with what is known as the Lantern Festival on the 15th day.
And for 2021, Lantern Festival falls on Friday the 26th January and it marks the final day of Chinese New Year and a return to normality. In various Asian countries, Chinese families will gather to lit and release their lanterns into the sky thus transforming the night sky into a beautiful and enchanting sea of vividly lit lanterns all in various colours, shapes and sizes.
It’s also the day where cities, temples and other locations transform into a majestic area of stunningly beautiful lanterns representing various figures and animals of the Chinese culture. It’s a real crowd pleaser and in some places like Xi’an (a city of the Shaanxi Province and once the capital city for long-gone imperial Chinese dynasties like the Tang Dynasty which ruled China from 618-907 with an interregnum from 690 to 705), it can seem like one has been transported to a wonderland of lanterns and lights.
From lantern riddles, lion and dragon dances, consuming rice balls and gazing at the moon, the lantern festival is the perfect climatic end to what is the single biggest period of festive celebrations for the Chinese people.
And thanks to general consensus, it’s believed that the festival is as old as Chinese New Year itself, dating back more than ~2000 years ago all the way to the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) when Emperor Wen officially set the 15th day of the first month of the Lunar calendar as the “Yuan Xiao” in which sacrifices were made to Tai Yi (the-then head god of the Buddhist Chinese pantheon) but eventually, it morphed into the lantern festival that we now know today, largely thanks to Emperor Ming (who was a devout Buddhist) of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25AD-220AD) who had heard of how Buddhist monks would pray to the relics of Buddha and also light lanterns in Buddha’s respect on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese Lunar calendar, and so being a devout Buddhist, Emperor Ming ordered that lanterns are to be lit throughout the imperial palaces and through all the temples during the Yuan Xiao festival.
Soon, commoners followed in the footsteps of their Emperor and also hanged lanterns outside their homes during the same time as well.
And throughout the many imperial dynasties of China, Yuan Xiao morphed and underwent multiple changes including the adding on of lion and dragon dance performances as well.
And during Lantern Festival, desserts such as Tangyuan and Yuanxiao are consumed which are glutinous rice balls made out of rice flour with different fillings such as peanut fillings or red bean fillings and they can come in different colours as well in a sweet ginger broth.
The consumption of these desserts first popped up during the Song dynasty but during China’s penultimate & last imperial dynasties (the Ming & Qing dynasties), it became popular and is also consumed by Chinese people during Winter solstice and other special occasions as well.
A common theme to do with Lantern Festival includes single men and single women using the occasion to hopefully find a companion and/or a lover on the lantern filled streets and it’s common for romantic riddles to be written on the lanterns but there’s also another way, and it’s called “Chap Goh Meh” where unmarried girls will throw tangerines into the sea or the river in hopes of being able to marry a loving husband.
For many, it’s like the Chinese Valentines day.
Other traditions include stealing vegetables from a farm on this day and have it put into a feast and the one who consumes the most will be first one to be married off (but this is a custom of the Dong people, an ethnic minority).
Lion and dragon dances adorn the lantern festival as well as talented stilts performers, but the primary tradition is to light lanterns and release them into the air.
And when midnight hits, Chinese New Year has come to an end, life returns to normality & people return back to work.
So I hoped that you’ve learnt something new about Chinese New Year, it’s celebrations, rituals and traditions varies depending on what country we’re talking about (and it even varies depending on regions and provinces in China as well), but one thing remains clear, it’s an intangible part of Chinese culture, reuniting with loved ones and friends to exchange gifts, exchange Ang pow’s, sit down together over delicious meals whilst enjoying Chinese New Year performances and to worship our ancestors and our gods together is what makes Spring Festival such an important festival.
And given the current state of our world, reunion is going to be hard (I know this especially), but that doesn’t meant that we shouldn’t connect with our beloved relatives that we can connect face-to-face (as in those who aren’t separated from us), if anything, this year’s Chinese New Year is going to be even more important, as without families, loved ones and friends, how can we celebrate 15 days of joy and fun? Rekindling with our loved ones and to share the prosperity and good luck for the year ahead.
Gong Xi Fai Chai. Xin Nian Kuai Lie. Gong Xi Gong Xi. Gong Hei Fat Choi.
I, Marcus Foo wish you and your family a very happy 2021 and a prosperous Chinese New Year for the year ahead. May we all eventually reunite with our loved ones.
And I shall leave you with this My Astro 2020 CNY song titled “好运鼠于你” (Wish you good luck).
Fooey's Culture Blog 