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CHINESE TRADITIONS DURING NEW YEAR


INTRODUCTION

Chinese New Year is one of the most festive occasions all over the world. From the street dances
and food fare to the fireworks display, no one can deny the fact that it is indeed a festive occasion.
Since the ancient times, Chinese people are already celebrating the Chinese New Year joyfully.
Until now, it is still celebrated by many people but it has already flourished from the day since it was
first celebrated.
There are lots of traditions that Chinese people have during the New Year. Some of them are
adapted by many Asian countries, including the Philippines.

CHINA ANDTHE CHINESE NEW YEAR

China has a wide territory. It is composed of deserts, steppes, grasslands, and icy mountains.
Because of its vast territory, China is the most thickly populated country in the whole world, having
more than 1,300,000,000 inhabitants divided into many ethno-linguistic groups. Those things made
China a very powerful country in terms of economics, business, and culture.
China is also the home of the Chinese New Year, a gay festivity wherein people explode
fireworks, eat delicious foods, receive and give gifts, and unite with their family and relatives.
The Chinese New Year or Chinese Lunar New Year is also called Spring Festival because it is
celebrated after the winter when flowers start to bloom and animals begin getting active again.
History and origin of the Chinese New Year varies but the most common legend explaining the
origin of the Chinese New Year talks about a mythical beast called Nian. Nian assumes a form of a
dragon and it brings chaos on the first day of the year by eating livestock, crops, and even children.
So villagers placed food every New Year in front of their houses so that Nian will stop eating their
crops. They also noticed that Nian is scared away by a little child wearing red so they began hanging
red lanterns and red spring scrolls to scare away the beast. They also used firecrackers in scaring
Nian away. The beast, frightened by the red lanterns and firecrackers, escaped from the village to be
seen no more. Then, people celebrated and thats how the Chinese New Year started.


CHINESE CLOTHING DURING NEW YEAR

Red is the most dominant color during the Chinese New Year. It is manifested through the red
lanterns, red spring scrolls, and red envelopes that we can see during this festive occasion. However,
the most important thing to be colored red during the Chinese New Year is their apparel.
Chinese people wear red-colored garments because it is the lucky color during New Year. They
believe that it is so because red is the color that scared away the mythical beast during the ancient
times. They also believe that red will repel bad luck and evil spirits. Red garments, however, are not
only used during New Year because is the dominant color in Chinese traditions so they can also be
worn throughout the year.
Polka-dotted clothes and new clothes are also worn during New Year. Polka-dots symbolize more
money to come because they are shaped like coins. New clothes, on the other hand, symbolize a
new beginning every year.




PRACTICES AND BELIEFS DURING THE CHINESE NEW YEAR

The Chinese New Year is commonly associated with practices and beliefs from the Chinese
people. One of the most common practices during Chinese New Year is using firecrackers. Ancient
Chinese believed that using firecrackers will scare away evil spirits because of the noise firecrackers
make. Another practice during the Chinese New Year is the giving of red packets. A red packet or
Hong bao is only a red envelope with money or gift in it. The money inside a red packet is known as
ya sui qian, literally age surprising money and it is given to each member of the family for they
believe it is a way of passing good luck.
There are also superstitious beliefs during the Chinese New Year. One of these beliefs states that
we should clean the house and sweep away the dirt during the New Year because it will bring good
luck out of your home. Another belief prohibits cutting of our hair a few days before the New Year
because hair is a homophone from the word fa meaning prosperity so cutting our hair will cut
prosperity off.
Superstitious beliefs and practices during New Year have been a part of Chinese tradition and
have been adapted by many Asian countries. They add color and gaiety to this festive occasion




FOODS DURING THE CHINESE NEW YEAR

Chinese people are very fond of food. That makes the Chinese New Year not only pleasant to
our eyes, for the very color and aroma of foods served on the table will make our mouths water and
our tongues hang. The wide variety of Chinese dishes will fit this festive occasion and will bring about
a more festive mood to this celebration.
The most common food served on this occasion are noodles. Chinese people cook noodles in
very numerous ways. Those noodle dishes have evolved to many forms and they have alienated the
cuisine of neighboring countries, especially that of the Philippines. Filipinos enjoy eating Pancit
Bihon and Mami, both of which from China. However, because of Filipinos creativity, they have
transformed the ordinary Pancit Bihon into diverse Filipino versions such as Pancit Palabok,
Pancit Miki, and Pancit Hab-hab. Those foods have been Filipino staples during New Year.
Another food commonly served on Chinese New Year is Nian gao or sticky cake or simply
tikoy in the Philippines. It is made of glutinous rice and wheat starch and is eaten fried or steamed.
Nian gao is a favorite of many people because of its sweet taste and varied flavors (some come in
purple yam, buko pandan, and cheese flavors). Nian gao means raising yourself each year. And like
noodles, and many other Chinese dishes, it has also been a part of the menu of the Philippines and
that of the other Asian countries during the Chinese New Year.

CONCLUSION
Traditions during Chinese New Year make the colorful occasion even more colorful and full of
life. Without them, this occasion would be as dull as a black and white photo. And without them,
people will only recognize the Chinese New Year as an ordinary occasion and not a very special one.
However, enjoyment is not the main purpose of celebrating the Chinese New Year, it is the
reuniting of the family as they celebrate and welcome the New Year and thanksgiving to the Holy One
who has given us another year on this world.