Food and laughter marks the Chinese New Year
Tony Ryanto Contributor Jakarta
Chinese Indonesians celebrate Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year in a variety of ways, but one tradition is fondly adhered to by all. That is, the presentation of angpao or lai see (small red envelopes containing crisp banknotes) to unmarried friends, close relatives and children.
While most parents are able to remain awake, their children benefit from a nap before being woken up at midnight. At this time, families hold a thanksgiving service, according to their religious beliefs. Then, the children wish their parents and elders a happy Lunar New Year.
Why lunar? Because the calendar is calibrated so that the full moon coincides with the fifteenth of each month. The Chinese calendar is measured by the earth's course in relation to the phases of the moon. The moon takes 29.53 days to complete its revolution around the earth.
Once every few years an extra month is inserted into the calendar (seven years out of a 19-year cycle). This is the same as adding an extra day in a leap year. Thus, Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.
The lunar calendar differs from the universally accepted one in that each month has 29 or 30 days.
The celebration of Chinese New Year starts with the new moon on the first day of the year and ends with the full moon on the 15th day after the new year. On the night of the 15th the Lantern Festival is celebrated, with a parade and displays of lanterns.
Family reunion
New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are family affairs and times of reunion, thanksgiving and rejoicing. Offerings are made to heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family's ancestors.
The most vital ritual is the spiritual union of the family with their deceased relatives through prayers and offerings. The Chinese have great respect for their ancestors. They believe that they owe their fortune and glory to those who went before them.
The family dinner on New Year's Eve also symbolizes family unity and honors past generations.
On the first of the 15-day celebration of the Lunar New Year the gods of heaven and Earth are welcomed. People traditionally abstain from consuming meat because it is believed that vegetarianism leads to a long and happy life.
The second day is marked by prayers to ancestors and the gods. On this day people are kind to dogs and feed their pets with special food, as this day is said to be the birthday of all dogs.
The third and fourth days are times for husbands and wives to show their gratitude to their parents-in-laws.
On the fifth day or Po Woo, people stay at home to welcome the god of wealth. No one visits their families or friends on this day because it will bring bad luck to both parties.
On the sixth day through until the 10th day people visit relatives and friends and go to the temple to pray for good fortune and health.
Farmers display their produce on the seventh day. They drink beverages made from seven types of vegetables to celebrate.
The seventh day is also considered the birthday of all human beings. Noodles and fish are served. The noodles are to prolong longevity and the fish is to ensure success.
On the eighth day, Fujian people (one of many Chinese ethnic groups) hold another family dinner. At midnight they pray to the god of heaven, Tian Gong.
The ninth day is marked by offerings to the Jade Emperor.
Friends and relatives are invited to dinner from the 10th day until the 12th day.
On the 13th day, the Chinese enjoy a simple meal of rice congee and mustard greens (choi sum). This is to cleanse the digestive system after days of rich food.
On the 14th day preparations for the Lantern Festival are well underway.
New Year's food
During New Year's celebrations, the Chinese consume more food than at any other time of the year. Traditional food is prepared for friends and family members as well as for offerings.
On New Year's Day, a vegetarian dish, called jai, is served. Its ingredients, along with those of other dishes served, are considered to bestow good fortune on those who partake in the feast: * Lotus seeds signify male offspring. * Ginkgo nuts represent silver ingots. * Black moss seaweed is symbolic of great wealth. * Dried bean curd is for the fulfillment of wealth and happiness. * Bamboo shoots are to wish everyone (and everything) well * A fish served whole represents togetherness and abundance * Chicken represents prosperity. Chicken, however, should be presented with its head, tail and feet to symbolize completeness. * Noodles should be served uncut to represent long life. * Fresh bean curd or tofu, however, is not included because white is an unlucky color for New Year. Besides, the color signifies death and misfortune.
In South China , the favorite dish is nian gao (sweet steamed glutinous rice pudding) and zong zi (glutinous rice wrapped up in leaves).
In North China, steamed wheat bread (mantou) and small meat dumplings are favorites.
The tremendous amount of food prepared for this event symbolizes the future abundance and wealth of the household.
Do's and don'ts
The house and its interior should be cleaned before the new year. On New Year's Eve, brooms, dusters, brushes, dust pans and other cleaning equipment are hidden from view.
Sweeping and dusting on New Year's Day is taboo because it is considered that good fortune is swept away with the dust.
After New Year's Day sweeping is allowed, the garbage should be swept into the corners of the living room (rather than the middle) but not removed until the 5th day after the new year.
Under no circumstances should the garbage be trampled on. If you sweep dirt out of the house you are symbolically sweeping away one of the family.
Sweeping dirt and dust out of the front door also means sweeping away good fortune. Dust and dirt must be swept inwards, then carried out through the back door.
Lighting firecrackers on New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the new one. On the stroke of midnight, every door in the house (and even the windows) must be opened to allow the old year to pass.
By then, debts must be paid. Nothing should be loaned. Anyone borrowing something is setting a precedent for themselves for the year.
Refrain from using foul language or unlucky words. The use of Si, meaning "four", should be avoided because it sounds like the word for "death". Other taboo words include those pertaining to death, dying, ghosts and references to the past year.
You should not cry on New Year's Day or you will cry all through the year. Adults, therefore, should not punish or spank children, even when they are mischievous and bad.
Washing your hair on New Year's Day means washing away the year's good luck. Red clothes are preferable because red is a bright and happy color, signifying a bright future.
Your appearance and attitude on New Year's Day sets the tone for the rest of the year.