Chinese have their Calender just like any other ethnics. Of all the traditional Chinese festivals, the New Year is perhaps the most elaborate, colourful, and important event celebrated by everyone here in Malaysia. This is the time for the Chinese to congratulate each other and themselves of having passed through another year, a period of completed resolutions, and to welcome in the new year with new wishes and hopes. Common expressions heard at this time are: GUONIAN to have made it through the old year, and BAINIAN to congratulate the new year.
Preparations for the Chinese New Year in old China started well in advance of the New Year's Day. The 20th of the Twelfth Moon was set aside for the annual housecleaning, or the "sweeping of the grounds" or in Malaysia, we called it Spring Cleaning. Every corner of the house must be swept and cleaned in preparation for the new year. Flowers and fruits are used to decorate the house, new curtains are made, cookies and delicacies are made, new clothes and shoes are bought, basically every items in the house will be changed to new if possible.
Kitchen God
After the house is cleaned it is time to bid farewell to the Kitchen God, or Zaowang. In traditional China, the Kitchen God was regarded as the guardian of the family hearth. He was identified as the inventor of fire, which was necessary for cooking and was also the censor of household morals. By tradition, the Kitchen God left the house on the 23rd of the last month to report to heaven on the behavior of the family for the past one year. At this time, the family did everything possible to obtain a positive report from the Kitchen God. On the evening of the 23rd, the family would give the Kitchen God a ritualistic farewell dinner with sweet foods and honey. Some said this was a bribe, others said it sealed his mouth from saying bad things. Sticky cases or Nian Gau will be served during this ritual.
Free from the every-watchful eyes of the Kitchen God, who was supposed to return on the first day of the New Year, the family will be preparing for the upcoming celebrations. In old China days, stores closed shop on the last two or three days of the year and remained closed for the first week of the New Year. Consequently, families were busy in the last week of the old year stocking up on foods and gifts. The last days of the old year was also the time to settle accumulated debts.
Family Celebration
On the last day of the old year, everyone will be busy either in preparing food for the next two days where most the eating outlets will be closed, and or getting tidied up for the New Year's Day. Tradition stipulated that all food be pre-pared before the New Year's Day, so that all sharp instruments, such as knives and scissors, can be stored away to avoid cutting the "luck" of the New Year. The kitchen and well were not to be disturbed on the first day of the Year.
The New Year's Eve and New Year's Day celebrations are strictly with family members and loved ones. All members of the family will gather for the important family meal on the evening of the New Year's Eve which we called Reunion Dinner. Even if a family member is unable to attend, an empty seat would be kept to symbolize that person's presence at the banquet. At midnight following the banquet, the younger members of the family would bow and pay their respects to their parents and elders. Red packets or Ang Pow will be given to the younger and unmarried ones. Everyone will be wearing new clothes and shoes to welcome the New Year. Fire crackers will be played during the evening.
Extracted from : http://www.c-c-c.org/
No comments:
Post a Comment