2009 is here!
I don't know about you but I've always had a thing about welcoming a new year. Gives me such a good feeling--- a chance for new beginnings.
If you were not able to welcome the new year with a bang, then grab this chance to welcome the coming Chinese New Year with more gusto!
So for January 26, 2009, the chinese new year date for the year of the ox, TRY TO:
1. Greet people with “Kung Hei Fat Choy” or “Gong Xi Far Tsai” (Happy New Year) to bring good fortune and prosperity.
Learning to say "Kung Hei Fat Choy" the right way might seem hard at first because I hear different versions of it every time but the essence of saying it would always stay the same: wishing others the same HAPPY new year that we would want for ourselves.
2. Clean your house and sweep out the bad luck of the previous year.
Chinese new year is actually celebrated up to 22 days prior and for 15 days after. While preparing for the coming year, people clean out their houses, wash their utensils, and discard unwanted items, all to make sure that the New Year begins fresh and clean.
3. Give yourself a cleansing, too.
Buy new clothing for the New Year and get your hair done. Getting a haircut is something we do a couple of times a year, why not do it now when it's considered LUCKY?
Do all this prior to the holiday, because doing this during New Year’s season they say, would invite a financial setback.
Debts must also be paid, in order to start the New Year with a clean slate.
4. Cast aside old grudges and earn forgiveness.
It always takes two to tango and you can't fully cast aside old hurts and pains without being with the person you quarreled with in the first place. But knowing inside, that you have forgotten and more importantly, forgiven will give you inner peace and invite better positive energies for the year ahead.
5. Ward off bad luck by draping red cloth on your doorway.
Red has always been a color associated with good luck and your doorway, the opening to your house, and in essence, your life will need all the help it can to keep out the bad luck.
My cousin's wife also shared with me that as a tradition in welcoming the new year at exactly midnight, her father opens all doors and windows and leaves all the lights on to send off bad spirits and invite good ones in.
6. Eat lucky foods for a prosperous New Year.
The Chinese have many superstitions when it comes to food. Some of these include:
1. Mustard greens for longevity
2. Long noodles for long life. (Pancit anyone? Remember cutting them is bad luck)
4. Candy to ensure a sweet year
5. Lotus seed for having many male offsprings
6. Ginkgo nut representing silver ingots or wealth
7. Black moss seaweed and dried bean curd both eaten for wealth
8. Bamboo shoots for good health
9. A whole chicken to symbolize completeness
10. Fish - half on New Year’s Eve, and half the next day to transfer last year’s remaining luck to the New Year
Some of these foods are considered lucky because their names mean something fortunate in Chinese. Likewise, other foods are considered unlucky because their names sound like unlucky words in Chinese.
7. Give red “lucky money” envelopes to pass on prosperity and good luck.
On New Year’s Eve, meet for a special dinner, and give your children or loved ones red envelopes containing gifts of lucky money.
The money should start in even numbers, such as two, twenty, and so on, as odd numbers are only given for funerals. So give P200 instead of P100 (hehe).
It should never add up to four however, as the number for four sounds like the word for death, and is therefore bad luck.
Six is lucky, and is often the amount chosen for lucky money envelopes.
For New Year’s Day, from 12 midnight, light some fireworks, fire up those firecrackers and whistling rockets to frighten off evil spirits and venerate the gods.
In the morning, light some ceremonial candles, burn incense and some paper money, too. Visit a church, or more appropriately, a chinese temple.
DO NOT SWEEP on New Year’s Day to avoid sweeping away the family’s good luck.
Avoid using knives, scissors and sharp instruments as these could cause harm, or cut off fortune, as do breaking any dishes.
The Chinese culture is very rich and I have great respect for the way they value and uphold their traditions. I believe that we Filipinos, have a lot to learn in that department.
I have always been interested in how to secure a better year ahead for me and my loved ones. Yes, I know, that we are mostly responsible for what happens in our lives but I've read that 1/3 of it, we should entrust to the gods of fate and luck.
It wouldn't hurt to help luck along, right? CHEERS to a bright 2009!
No comments:
Post a Comment