Chinese New Year begins between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20th. The Chinese calendar is Lunarsolar. This year, 2015 Chinese New year began Feb. 19th. Sometimes, Chinese New Year is also called Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. 2015 is the year of the Goat. I have also seen it listed as the year of the sheep or the year of the horned animal.
There are many traditions and myths associated with Chinese New Year. These traditions and myths can vary depending on the region, and the generation. I tried to read a lot about this holiday, but I also spoke to several people about the holiday and the practices which are associated with it.
This is a tree in the lobby of the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino. The small envelopes hanging on the tree represent red envelopes which are given from a married couple to children. They contain money (the amount can vary from a couple of dollars to hundreds) but the money is suppose to be even increments. Eight is a lucky number in Chinese culture, so many times the envelopes will contain $8. One man I spoke to told me that the children were to sleep with the envelopes under their pillow until after the holiday ends. (15 days) Sometimes Chocolate coins are placed in the red envelopes. This is referred to as "lucky money".
Flowers are another decoration used during Chinese New Year. The flowers have a meaning:
plum blossoms=luckiness
kumquat=prosperity
narcissus=prosperity
sunflower=have a good year
eggplant=heal all sickness
Chomp mon plant=tranquility
This display is located in the Café near the Casino.
Red paper lanterns and Chinese Poetry are displayed above doorways. Red symbolizes fire, which can drive away bad luck.
Before this holiday it is a custom to thoroughly clean your home to "sweep away" ill fortune and to make way for "good fortune". New clothes and shoes purchased represent a "new start". Hair cuts need to be done before the new year. Old debts should be paid off before the new year.
New year's eve fire crackers are lit to scare away evil spirits.
On the first day of the new year, (depending on where you are) people take this day off from work. Using knives and lighting fires is considered bad luck so food eaten today is prepared in the days before. I was told that they do not shower, on the first day. This is a day to honor the senior members of the family.
The second day is known as "beginning the new year". We attended another dinner on the second night. I was told that everyone's birthday is celebrated on this day. In my reading it said the 7th day was the day that everyone grows one year older. The holiday is 15 days long. Depending on where you are in the world, it is celebrated for 3-15 days. Many of the days are birthdays of their Gods and are celebrated with prayers and offerings. The 15th day is the Lantern Festival. Candles are lit outside homes to guide wayward spirits home. Families walk the streets carrying lanterns. In some areas this is their "Valentine's day". I was told that girls are allowed to go meet single men.
Legends say that in the beginning of Chinese New year that Nian, a mythological beast would come on the first day of the year and eat livestock, crops and villagers (especially children). Villagers would prepare food for Nian, and leave it at the front door, in hopes that he would eat the food prepared and not the people. Red was a color Nian was afraid of so lanterns, firecrackers and red spring rolls were hung around the doors to frighten Nian away.
Prayers are offered and incense burned to ask the Gods for a prosperous and lucky year. And also to honor the ancestors.
The family reunion dinner is held on New year's eve. An important part of this tradition is prayers offered before and after the festivities. The family dinner is usually held at the eldest family members home. This dinner is very large. Each dish eaten has a meaning or significance.
Chris and I were invited to the Chinese New Years Eve dinner here at the Dynasty. The next few pictures are of the food we had and the meanings either I was told or that I found through reading.
So, red writing will be what I read and black will be what I was told.
Boiled chicken=no matter their circumstances most families can afford chicken at their feast.
A phoenix rising up.
Sea food=Is usually eaten but sometimes displayed, the pronunciation of fish is a homophone for "surplus" Whole hearted happiness (the shrimp needs to be served with the head and tail)
Goat=year of the goat
Vegetables=colorful
Crab cakes=show strength
Leeks and Bamboo fungus=The pronunciation of Leek sounds like "calculating money"
Longevity
Fish=(see shrimp above) plentiful
Sticky rice cake=growth
The quality of this picture is poor because I took it of the TV. It is a dragon that danced in Saipan the "Lion Dance". Traditionally the Lion dance is believed to evict evil spirits. The Lion or dragon dance is accompanied by loud drums and cymbals.
I included this chart so you could see which animal you are born under. It is important to remember that if you were born in Jan. Or Feb. You may fall in the year before. For example, our daughter Rachel, who was born Jan. 11, 1996 would actually be Pig(1995). Our son Jacob was born Feb. 19, 1993 he does fall under Rooster (1993) because of how Chinese New Year fell that year.
Legend says that in ancient times, Buddha asked the animals to meet him on Chinese New year. Twelve came and he named a year after each animal. Buddha said that each person born in an animals year, would have some of the characteristics/personality of that animal.
I love learning about cultures and their traditions. My information was gathered from personal interviews with individuals as well as Wikipedia, charts were copied from a Google search.
