Happy Chinese New Year to all in this year of the Sheep (or Ram, or Goat)
By now, you have followed religiously many traditions your parents have engrained into your mind in fears of awakening the evil spirits that will haunt you for years to come.
Some of the more common traditions include:
- not washing your hair on New Years Day, because it would mean we would have washed away good luck for the New Year.
- cleaning your entire house before New Years Day and not on New Years Day for the fear that good fortune will be swept away.
Below are some of the other obscure traditions you might not have heard of.
CLEANING
The entire house should be cleaned before New Year’s Day. On New Year’s Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment are put away. After New Year’s Day, the floors may be swept. Beginning at the door, the dust and rubbish are swept to the middle of the parlor, then placed in the corners and not taken or thrown out until the fifth day. At no time should the rubbish in the corners be trampled upon. In sweeping, there is a superstition that if you sweep the dirt out over the threshold, you will sweep one of the family away. Also, to sweep the dust and dirt out of your house by the front entrance is to sweep away the good fortune of the family; it must always be swept inwards and then carried out, then no harm will follow. All dirt and rubbish must be taken out the back door.
IN WITH THE NEW, OUT WITH THE OLD
Shooting off firecrackers on New Year’s Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the New Year. Also, on the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, every door in the house, and even windows, have to be open to allow the old year to go out.
MONEY WISE
All debts had to paid by this time. Nothing should be lent on this day, as anyone who does so will be lending all the year.
FOUL LANGUAGE
Everyone should refrain from using foul language and bad or unlucky words. Negative terms and the word “four”, which sounds like the word for death, are not to be uttered. Death and dying are never mentioned and ghost stories are totally taboo. References to the past year are also avoided as everything should be turned toward the New Year and a new beginning.
THERE’S NO CRYING ON NEW YEARS DAY
If you cry on New Year’s day, you will cry all through the year. Therefore, children are tolerated and are not spanked, even though they are mischievous.
RED IS THE COLOUR
Red clothing is preferred during this festive occasion. Red is considered a bright, happy color, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future. It is believed that appearance and attitude during New Year’s sets the tone for the rest of the year. Children and unmarried friends, as well as close relatives are given lai see, little red envelopes with crisp dollar bills inserted, for good fortune.
ON THE STRANGER SIDE OF THINGS. For those most superstitious:
Before leaving the house to call on others, the Almanac should be consulted to find the best time to leave the home and the direction which is most auspicious to head out.
The first person one meets and the first words heard are significant as to what the fortunes would be for the entire year. It is a lucky sign to see or hear songbirds or red-colored birds or swallows.
It is considered unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom so that is why everyone, even the sick, should get dressed and sit in the living room.
Do not use knives or scissors on New Year’s Day as these sharp objects may cut off fortune.
Be sure to stock up on reading materials before Chinese New Year, as Hong Kong’s bookshops will be padlocked tight. In Cantonese, book is a homonym for ‘lose’.
Make sure you avoid rough seas in the new year by not buying shoes over the holiday period. In Cantonese, shoes are a homonym for ‘rough’.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT
Whether you follow these traditions or not, I believe it’s important for families keep up the customs as they provide an important connection to the past while preserving their culture for future generations.
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR TO ALL – whether you believe or not.
– Will
