LSA News

No. 87, February 2008

Chinese New Year
(continued)

"Good fortune to the whole family" and "Peacefulness and well-being throughout the year"

Celebrations start early, well before the New Year, and culminate on the 15th day of the lunar month with the Lantern Festival. In the countryside where tradition still holds strongly, people closely follow time-honored holiday rituals starting early in December. Typically, preparation involves house cleaning and refurbishing, perhaps paying off debts, tidying up one's affairs, and of course, shopping for food and supplies for the New Year holiday. Cleaning—essentially spring cleaning—is not only practical as a yearly activity but considered highly symbolic. The old, the past, is swept out to make way for a new, fresh, and clean start to the New Year. According to superstition it is untoward to clean one's house or perhaps even to wash one's hair on New Year's Day because that might expel good luck and fortune for the entire year.

"Spring" and "Prosperity in the Year of the Rat"

There are many other rituals that are observed throughout the holiday period. "Spring couplets" (chunlian) on red paper scrolls inscribed with auspicious blessings adorn door frames along with images of door gods. Red paper cutouts or solid squares with the word "good fortune" (fu) are posted upside down in the home because the word "upside down" in mandarin Chinese sounds like the word for arrival, thus suggesting the arrival of good fortune. The charm of word play is a very important aspect of the Chinese culture. It is almost a ubiquitous practice to display words or utter expressions synonymous with auspicious meanings for this festive occasion. Paper cutouts bearing festive themes, especially animal signs of the year, decorate the home, often covering windows and door frames.

Mice with no saying

The highlight and most important event of the holiday period is the New Year's Eve when families get together for a sumptuous feast of traditional dishes. A fish dish is a must because it is symbolic of abundance and plentitude, again a play on words. Other dishes that represent the themes of prosperity and unity are served. Varieties of dumplings are a favorite mainstay-sweet dumplings (tangyuan) in the south and savory dumplings (jiaozi) in the north. In mainland China, after dinner the whole family will sit down and enjoy the Chinese New Year Celebration Evening Gala broadcast live by China Central Television (CCTV). The program, a combination of skits, comedy, song and dance, magic and acrobatics, as well as traditional Chinese dramas, starts at eight o'clock and lasts through midnight. It has become a new tradition in mainland China where roughly 700 million people watch this annual event. At midnight firecrackers and fireworks are set off and people express New Year greetings to one another, either in person or by telephone and text messages. Firecrackers and fireworks of course are part of the tradition that was originated to ward off evil. According to legend, in ancient times there was a man-eating monster who would come out of hiding at year's end to threaten livestock and humans. It was a fierce and ferocious monster, but it feared loud noises and bright colors. So, people painted their gates in red and lit firecrackers wrapped in bright red to scare it off. The tradition for firecrackers and fireworks is continued today as it enhances the festive atmosphere. Children are naturally delighted in all the festivities. Decked out in their new clothes, they anticipate the revelry, the wide variety of firecrackers and fireworks, and total temporary freedom to play and stay up late. And they especially look forward to the promise of bright red envelops or packets of "lucky money".

Lantern with "Fu" printed on it, meaning "Good fortune"

On New Year's Day, people pay their respect to gods and ancestors and perform ritual greetings by order of seniority. In rural areas people go to temple fairs with lion dances and folk art performances. Throughout the holiday season relatives and friends pay visits to one another, exchanging gifts of fresh fruits or other delicacies. Each day after the Lunar New Year has a traditional set of obligations and activities. For instance, on the second day a married daughter returns to her parents' home, bringing her husband and children, along with gifts. On the third day people will retire early, perhaps to get some much needed rest after three days of excitement. Lights will go out early also, as on this night according to legend mice will marry off their daughters. On the fifth day people will make dumplings again to rid themselves of bad elements, a practice observed in some northern parts of China. Commercial activity will gradually resume. In some rural areas temple fairs are held on the ninth day to celebrate the birth of the "Jade Emperor". The holiday culminates and ends on the fifteenth day of the lunar month with the Lantern Festival. Traditionally, people hang artistically made lanterns outside their houses or in temples, and carry them to an evening parade under the light of the full moon. One of the highlights of this jubilant event is perhaps the dragon lantern dance. The dragon lantern is made of cloth and paper which can be 100 feet long. It is carried by a group of young men, who in dancing movements make it come alive with its swinging and swaying. Another even more eye-catching variation is a combination of the lion and dragon dances called "dragon teasing the lion". The delicacies to eat on this day are sweet dumplings made of glutinous rice which signify unity and harmony. But beneath all the ritual and symbolism that permeates the New Year is the central theme of conviviality and family togetherness, and a sense of starting fresh in the upcoming year.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated in major cities around the world, albeit with some modification to fit particular local cultures. Here in Lane County, the Chinese New Year celebration is part of the larger Oregon Asian Celebration, now in its 23rd year. The events will take place at the usual venue, the Lane County Fairgrounds, on February 16 and 17. We in the Chinese community are very fortunate that Eugene, a small city with a big heart, has a unique appreciation of cultural diversity, allowing all of us a great opportunity to honor our cultural heritage.

Photos of paper cuts and a lantern bought in China for the Chinese New Year are taken by a friend of the author who wishes to remain anonymous

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