Sunday, February 18, 2007
KUNG HEI FAT CHOI!
Happy new year to all the Chinese peeps!..hehe! since its Chinese New year im gonna post something about them. I mean the Story how they get to celebrate their New years and then their traditions and the foods. I know we Pinoys used to do some of them, we have inherited some of it since we were ruled by them for some years. =)
The Chinese New Year Story
Long ago, the world was not a safe place; monsters dominated the world. There was one horrifying monster that came out on the same day each year to eat people. This monster was named Nian, and the people marked the end of a year by his visits to the human civilization. That is where the Chinese word for year came from.
This monster was the most feared by the people because every time it came out, whole villages would be destroyed at a time. So, every time the monster came, people would huddle together in their homes and stay up all night, wanting not to be eaten. This happened for many years until a wise man thought up a plan to scare the monster away.
This man proposed that the people should light bamboo. The bamboo would crack and make a lot of noise, possibly scaring the monster away. The villagers thought this was a very good idea and started to light the bamboo. The noise was tremendous. The monster was scared by the loud noise and ran back to its cave without not eating any people.
The next morning, everyone was present. They were all elated. The people congratulated each other for executing the plan effectively. So, from then on, people stayed up late, lit firecrackers (to simulate the lighting of the bamboo), and congratulated each other when the new year came.
Preparations for the New Years:
-Clean the house meaning a "general cleaning" for the house is needed. To take away all the bad spirits and bad luck form the past year.
-Paint all the doors, windows and walls. hmm..paint them with all red.lolz!
-Decorate the house with all the chinese things that gives "fortune", "happiness" and "luck".
-Hang or put some oranges and mandarin around the house as a symbol of happiness and good relationships.
-Hang red lanterns around the house.
Foods for the New Years:
-Melone candito for abundancy and good health. Melone candito cooked in oven with sugar. In short dried melon. =)
-Seeds of watermelon (butong pakwan in pinoy) for happiness, the truth and sincerity.
-Lychees for the family.
-Arance nane for prosperity. hmm..arance nane is like mandarin oranges they are small.
-Coconuts for a more stronger family ties. Which we pinoys value that much.
-Hazel nuts for a longer life.
-Semi di loto for more children. Loto is a kind of a chinese flower.
-Fish for Happiness.
Traditions for New Years:
-Donot clean the house on New Years day in order not to drive away the goodluck.
-Be sure to pay all your debts before the New Year comes. Or else you will start and end the year with credits. hehe! well, i don't know if it is really true but some of the pinoys practice this.
-Donot cry on New Years day or else you will cry the whole year.haha! It is like what they say that what you do before the New Years day you will do it the whole year. And for other people its better to be with your loved ones so you will be together the whole year.
-To see and to listen with a bird in the day of New year brings goodluck for the whole year.
-Dressing up in red can take away bad spirits!
There you go guys, those are some of their traditions that they usually do before the New years or the day itself. We pinoys used to do them too. Like dressing up in red and with the red polka dots will bring us more money for the whole year. My mom used to open our windows and put lots of coins on it. Then in the next morning me and my bro will collect them. Whoever wakes up early then the more coins you will get.lolz! Also putting round fruits around the house and preparing 12kinds of fruits in the table on the day of New years will bring goodluck for the 12 months of the year. hehe! What about jumping so high so you will get higher for the next year.lolz! And putting lots of coins on your pocket then shake them on midnight while having the fireworks. Then after 6pm, my mom tells us not to break anything fragile which will bring us badluck for the whole year.
Hmm..i guess those are some of the traditions we used to practice. Traditions and beliefs we have inherited most specially with the Chinese people. But i guess we pinoys just getting exaggerated sometimes.hehe!
I better go now. I'll see you all on my next posts. Thanks for all the comments and tags. Keep it coming. =P
Happy 81st Birthday to Boo's grandma. More happiness, good health and long life!
Have a good week ahead guys! =)
**I want some tikoy.lolz! Anybody there who can give me?bwahaha. *devil's laugh*
Y Make me yours tonight, let me die in your arms;
8:36 PM
8:36 PM
