By Peng Kate Gao
If I have to name one day of an entire year that I wish dearly to be with my family-on-the-other-side-of-the-planet, it’s the Chinese New Year. Also called Spring Festival, it is the most cherished and celebrated holiday in China, as families reunite to ring out the old year and celebrate the coming new year. According to the Chinese Animal Zodiac, every year is associated with one of twelve animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. On February 19, 2015 we say farewell to a previous year of the Horse, and welcome the beginning of a year of the Sheep.
The myth of Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year celebration has a long history, dating back over 4,000 years. According to ancient legends, it began with a mythical beast called Nian. Nian was a ferocious monster with a gigantic horn and sharp teeth. It lived in the deep sea all year long, but once every year it would crawl out of the water to wreak havoc on villages. Every year on this day, villagers, young and old, would flee deep into the mountains to hide from Nian’s attack.
One year, while the villagers had started their rush to the mountains, an old beggar came through the neighborhood. An elderly grandmother gave him food, and warned him to hide so as not to be harmed by Nian. The beggar laughed and said that he could chase Nian away. Surprised and hesitant, the old woman left on her own.
At midnight, Nian arrived in the village. It was pitch black everywhere, except for the old woman’s house, which shone brightly with candle and lantern light. The monster bounded towards the house, but stopped short, trembling at the sight of a piece of bright red paper on the door. Suddenly, firecrackers began to explode. Terrified, Nian ran away from the village.
When the villagers returned the following day, they were surprised to find that everything was safe and sound. The old woman told the story of the beggar. Noticing the red paper on the door and the remnants of candles, lanterns, and firecrackers, the villagers suddenly realized that Nian feared the color red, bright light, and loud noises. Rejoicing in relief and excitement, they celebrated. Wearing new hats and clothes, they visited family and friends, and congratulated each other on the prospect of a peaceful year ahead.
Since then, every year on the day that Nian would appear, families adorn their doors with red paper, set off firecrackers, and light candles and lanterns in their homes. The next morning, which marks the start of a new year, people visit their relatives and friends, with festivities lasting for 15 days. This tradition of gratitude and hope has continued till today.
Traditional Chinese New Year decorations
To celebrate the Chinese New Year, families decorate their homes with a variety of red items, as red signifies luck and good fortune in Chinese culture. The most popular ones include lanterns, Spring Festival couplets and paper cutouts.
Red lanterns are usually hung around the house, especially at the front door, where families often put up a pair of large ones. These lanterns burn throughout the night, protecting the family from the evil monster Nian.
Spring Festival couplets are pairs of calligraphic writings of ancient Chinese poems on a background of red paper. Expressing sentiments about life’s renewal, the arrival of spring, and wishes for a prosperous year ahead, they’re pasted on both sides of the main door. These Spring Festival couplets originate from ancient “peach wood charms,” which are carved or painted charms depicting protective door gods. During the Five Dynasty Period (897-979 AD), Emperor Meng Chang ordered his counselor to engrave an inspirational couplet on a pair of peach wood slats to hang on the door of his living room, starting a custom that gradually evolved into today’s Spring Festival couplets.
Besides Spring Festival couplets, it is also common for people to make red paper cutouts and paste them on windows. It’s popular to display calligraphic writings of Chinese characters for “spring” or “blessing.” These are sometimes hung upside down, since in Chinese, the word “invert” is a homonym for “arrive,” thus signifying the arrival of spring or blessing to the household.
Traditional Chinese New Year cuisine
The most important meal during the celebration is the New Year’s Eve dinner, when families get together for a sumptuous banquet. The cuisine varies in different parts of China. In the north, it is customary to eat dumplings (jiao zi), which bear the shape of ancient Chinese currency gold ingots (yuan bao), thus signifying fortune. In southern China, people usually eat New Year’s cake made of glutinous rice flour (nian gao), since it is a homophone for “higher and higher every year” in Chinese.
Traditional activities of a Chinese New Year
After New Year’s Eve dinner, family members typically stay up late together and chat happily until midnight (shou sui), waiting for the first bell ring of the New Year. There are also many New Year’s Eve TV programs featuring singing and dancing, entertaining millions of families in China and around the world.
On the first day of the New Year, it is customary for younger generations to visit the elders, wishing them health and longevity. Children and teenagers are given “lucky money” (ya sui qian) packed in red envelops by their parents and grandparents. These are believed to bring good luck and to ward off evil spirits. People also visit relatives and friends during the New Year celebration period. For these visits snacks are often served; the most popular ones include sunflower seeds, peanuts, tangerines and candy.
Year of the Sheep
According to the Chinese Animal Zodiac, 2015 is a year of the Sheep. In Chinese folk tales, the story of the Sheep is similar to that of Prometheus in Greek mythology. Prometheus brought fire to mankind, while the sacred Sheep brought seeds of corn and rice and taught mankind the basics of farming. Beloved by the people, the Sheep made its way into the Chinese Animal Zodiac, symbolizing beauty, calm, sensitivity and creativity. It is believed that people born in a particular year possess characteristics of the animal zodiac associated with that year. Michelangelo, Mark Twain, and Thomas Edison were all born in year of the Sheep.
Chinese New Year greetings
If you want to wish colleagues or friends a happy Chinese New Year during the New Year period (Feb 19-Mar 6, 2015), try greeting them in authentic Chinese, and you will likely spark a big smile on their faces:
Guo nian hao: Happy New Year.
Wan shi ru yi: Wish you every happiness and prosperity.
Gong xi fa cai: Wish you to make great fortune.
He jia huan le: Wish happiness for your whole family.
The year of the Sheep is right around the corner, so wan shi ru yi everyone!
Na Kate Peng Gao Kama mimi kuwa na jina siku moja ya mwaka mzima kwamba nataka sana kuwa na familia yangu juu ya upande mwingine wa sayari, ni Mwaka Mpya wa Kichina. Sherehe ya Spring ni likizo ya kawaida nchini China ambapo familia huungana tena kuadhimisha mwaka mpya. Kulingana na zodiac ya wanyama ya Kichina, kila mwaka unahusishwa na moja ya wanyama kumi na mbili: Panya, Ng'ombe, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Nyoka, Farasi, Kondoo, Monkey, Rooster, Mbwa, na Nguruwe. Februari 19, 2015 ni mwaka wa farasi na mwaka wa kondoo. Mwaka Mpya wa Kichina ni sherehe ya mwaka mpya ya Kichina na ina historia ya miaka zaidi ya 4,000. Kulingana na hekaya za kale, ilianza na mnyama wa hadithi aitwaye Nian. Nian alikuwa mnyama-mwitu mkali mwenye pembe kubwa na meno makali. Aliishi baharini mwaka mzima, lakini mara moja kila mwaka alitoka majini na kuharibu vijiji. Kila mwaka siku hii, wakazi wa kijiji hicho, vijana na wazee, walikimbilia milimani ili kujificha kutokana na shambulio la Nian. Mwaka mmoja, wakati wakazi wa kijiji hicho walipoanza kukimbilia milimani, mkulima mzee alikuja kupitia ujirani. Nyanya mzee alimpa chakula, na kumwonya kujificha ili asiumizwe na Nian. Mnyenyekevu huyo alicheka na kusema kwamba angeweza kumfukuza Nian. Akiwa ameshangaa na kusitasita, mwanamke huyo mzee aliondoka peke yake. Wakati wa usiku wa manane, Nian aliwasili kijijini. Kulikuwa na giza kabisa kila mahali, isipokuwa nyumba ya yule mwanamke mzee, ambayo iling'aa kwa mwangaza wa mshumaa na taa. Mnyama bounded kuelekea nyumba, lakini kusimamishwa mfupi, kutetemeka kwa kuona kipande cha karatasi nyekundu mkali juu ya mlango. Kwa ghafula, mioto ilichomeka. Akiwa na hofu, Nian alikimbia kutoka kijijini. Wakaaji wa kijiji hicho waliporudi siku iliyofuata, walishangaa kuona kwamba kila kitu kilikuwa salama. Mwanamke mzee alisimulia hadithi ya mwombaji. Wakiona karatasi nyekundu kwenye mlango na mabaki ya mishumaa, taa, na mienge, watu wa kijiji hicho waligundua kwamba Nian aliogopa rangi nyekundu, mwangaza mkali, na kelele kubwa. Wakiwa na furaha na msisimko, walifanya sherehe. Wakiwa wamevaa kofia na nguo mpya, waliwatembelea familia na marafiki, na kubariki kila mmoja kwa matarajio ya mwaka wa amani ujao. Tangu wakati huo, kila mwaka siku ambayo Nian angetokea, familia hupamba milango yao kwa karatasi nyekundu, huwasha mienge, na kuwasha mishumaa na taa nyumbani mwao. Asubuhi ya siku iliyofuata, ambayo huashiria mwanzo wa mwaka mpya, watu huwatembelea jamaa na marafiki zao, na sherehe huendelea kwa siku 15. Utamaduni huo wa shukrani na tumaini umeendelea hadi leo. Kwa ajili ya kusherehekea Mwaka Mpya wa Kichina, watu wa nchi mbalimbali huandaa nguo za rangi nyekundu ambazo huwakilisha bahati na bahati nzuri. Vitu vinavyopendwa zaidi ni taa, vifungo vya Sherehe ya Majira ya Mapinduzi na vipande vya karatasi. Kwa kawaida taa nyekundu huwekwa karibu na nyumba, hasa mlangoni, ambako mara nyingi familia huweka taa mbili kubwa. Taa hizo huwaka usiku kucha, zikilinda familia hiyo dhidi ya mnyama mwovu Nian. Vipande vya nyimbo vya Sherehe ya Majira ya Mapinduzi ni vifungu vya mashairi ya kale ya Kichina yaliyoandikwa kwa maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi. Zikieleza hisia kuhusu upyaji wa maisha, kuwasili kwa majira ya kuchipua, na matakwa ya mwaka wenye ufanisi ujao, zimefungwa pande zote mbili za mlango mkuu. Hizi Spring Festival couplets hutokana na kale <unk>peach mbao charm,<unk> ambayo ni kuchongwa au kuchorwa charm kuwakilisha ulinzi mlango miungu. Wakati wa kipindi cha nasaba tano (897-979 KK), Maliki Meng Zhen aliamuru mshauri wake kuchonga couplet ya msukumo kwenye jozi ya slats ya mbao ya peach ili kushikilia kwenye mlango wa chumba chake cha kuishi, na kuanza desturi ambayo hatua kwa hatua ilibadilika kuwa couplets ya Sherehe ya Majira ya kuchipua ya leo. Mbali na couplets ya Sherehe ya Majira ya Mapinduzi, ni kawaida pia kwa watu kufanya cutouts nyekundu karatasi na kuweka yao juu ya madirisha. "Kuna watu wengi wanaona maandishi ya Kichina ya ""mwisho"" au ""baraka"" kama maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi ya maandishi." Chakula cha jadi cha Mwaka Mpya wa Kichina Chakula muhimu zaidi wakati wa sherehe ni chakula cha jioni cha Jioni ya Mwaka Mpya, wakati familia zinakusanyika kwa karamu ya kifahari. Vyakula hutofautiana katika sehemu mbalimbali za China. Katika nchi za kaskazini, ni desturi kula dumplings (jiao zi), ambayo hubeba umbo la sarafu ya kale ya Kichina ya dhahabu (yuan bao), hivyo kuonyesha bahati. Katika kusini mwa China, watu kwa kawaida hula keki ya Mwaka Mpya iliyotengenezwa kwa unga wa mchele wenye glutinous (nian gao), kwani ni homophone kwa <unk>juu na juu kila mwaka<unk> kwa Kichina. Baada ya chakula cha jioni cha usiku wa Mwaka Mpya, washiriki wa familia kwa kawaida hukaa hadi usiku pamoja na kuzungumza kwa furaha hadi usiku wa manane (shou sui), wakisubiri kengele ya kwanza ya Mwaka Mpya. Pia kuna programu nyingi za televisheni za usiku wa Mwaka Mpya zenye kuimba na kucheza dansi, zikivutia mamilioni ya familia nchini China na ulimwenguni pote. Katika siku ya kwanza ya mwaka mpya, ni desturi kwa vizazi vya vijana kuwatembelea wazee, kuwaombea afya na maisha marefu. Watoto na matineja hupewa "pesa za bahati" (ya sui qian) zilizopakiwa katika bahasha nyekundu na wazazi na babu na nyanya zao. Inaaminika kwamba hizo huleta bahati nzuri na kuondoa roho mbaya. Watu pia hutembelea jamaa na marafiki wakati wa sherehe ya Mwaka Mpya. Kwa ziara hizi vitafunio mara nyingi hutumika; wale maarufu zaidi ni pamoja na mbegu za alizeti, karanga, tangerines na peremende. Mwaka wa Kondoo: Kulingana na zodiac ya Kichina, mwaka wa 2015 ni mwaka wa kondoo. Katika hadithi za watu wa China, hadithi ya Kondoo inafanana na ile ya Prometheus katika hekaya za Kigiriki. Prometheus alileta moto kwa wanadamu, wakati Kondoo Mtakatifu alileta mbegu za mahindi na mchele na kuwafundisha wanadamu misingi ya kilimo. Mnyama huyo, ambaye ni mnyama wa kwanza katika zodiac ya Kichina, anawakilisha uzuri, utulivu, hisia na ubunifu. Inaaminika kwamba watu waliozaliwa katika mwaka fulani wana sifa za wanyama wa zodiac wanaohusiana na mwaka huo. Michelangelo, Mark Twain, na Thomas Edison wote walizaliwa katika mwaka wa Kondoo. "Kama unataka kuwa na marafiki au wenzako katika kipindi cha Mwaka Mpya wa Kichina, jaribu kuwapongeza kwa Kichina halisi, na unaweza kuamsha tabasamu kubwa kwenye nyuso zao. """ Wan shi ru yi: Ninakutakia furaha na ufanisi. Gong xi fa cai: Natamani ufanye bahati kubwa. He jia huan le: Tamani furaha kwa familia yako yote. Mwaka wa Kondoo uko karibu sana, kwa hiyo wan shi ru yi kila mtu!