Chinese New Year 2013: Year of the Snake

As we finish celebrating the New Year, I am preparing the family to celebrate another one, Chinese New Year.  I love the American New Year, but I am also very fond of the Chinese New Year as well.  My favorite part of celebration as a kid was those red envelopes stuffed with “lucky money,” or bills, anywhere from one dollar to twenty dollars that I received from family and friends. Then there are those vivid memories of the beautiful paper lanterns and, of course, everyone’s favorite, the dragon and lion dances. If you’d like to see a Chinese New Year craft for kids, click Paper Lanterns for Chinese New Year Celebration.

HISTORY
Chinese New Year is the most important festival in China. This 15-day celebration starts on the first day of the month which marks the end of winter and the starting of the Spring Festival 春節 (Pinyin: Chūnjié).

The difference between the American New Year and the Chinese New Year is due to the type of calender that are used.  The Chinese follows a lunar calendar that closely reflects the phases of the moon. Like many other lunar calendars, it is not in legal use, but solely for the purpose of marking traditions and/or religious celebrations.  Many neighboring countries share this Lunar New Year with the Chinese, such as Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand to name a few. Regional customs in how people celebrate differs however.

Before rolling in the new year, Chinese people symbolically clean out their house to get rid all the bad stuff while welcoming good luck in the new year. Red papers, called Couplets, with words like “longevity”, “happiness,” “prosperity” are usually posted on each doorpost to bring good fortune to the family.

New Year’s Eve marks the beginning of the celebration whereby family members gather for a feast. I remember having chicken and pork and a host of other dishes with veggies and sweet desserts. And having different meat dishes on the table indicates prosperity for the family; the poor on the other hand could only afford cheaper food like rice and vegetables. The goal, as my dad puts it, is to “end the year with plenty to start the new year well.”

Starting the year well seems to be the overarching theme for the Chinese culture because what ever happens during these few days will follow for the rest of the year.

New Year, New Perspective
Now that I’m a Christian, I see a different perspective to these superstitions.  I still want to teach my kids the traditions of my heritage and I also want to teach them that we no longer live in fear for Christ has cast out all our fears.  I know that no matter what we say or what we do will change how much Jesus loves us.  His love endures forever.  Jesus also says in the Bible, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (New International Version 1984).  And so, I look forward celebrating this coming Chinese Year with the family and with you as well as I will be posting some activities and crafts.

To learn how we made paper lanterns, click Paper Lanterns for Chinese New Year Celebration.

References:

A Phone Interview With My Dad

Wikipedia