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Chinese New Year in my eyes

Updated: 2015-03-11 16:08

Photo provided by Teresa

By Teresa

Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is the most important traditional festival in China that brings its blessing and festive atmosphere across the world and is becoming a world festival. It is also a time for whole families to get together, which is similar to Christmas Day for Westerners.

In the course of New Year's days, various celebrations are going on in different parts of China, as well as many parts of the world, which include the annual reunion dinner on Chinese New Year's Eve, firecrackers, giving lucky money to children, New Year bell ringing and Chinese New Year greetings.

In many Laowai’s eyes, what impressed them the most about Spring Festival is its customs, which reflect the traditional practices and morality of the whole Chinese nation and its people. It surprises them when they are associated with it. As for me, a local Guangzhouee, this is still a new experience involved since I am newly married. The lead-up to Chinese New Year is filled with as much excitement and preparation as the period itself. Having cleaned the house, bought a new outfit and cut my hair, I was well prepared for the arrival of Chinese New Year. First came the Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner. As the same as others the dinner was a bubbly affair at home with the family.

Late in the evening I was still busy arranging things for praying to the God. like fruits, food and decorations with couplets. Thoughts of the joyful moments with my friends at this time in past years, I was a bit depressed. Since as a single lady,I used to enjoy myself with my friends outside without preparing so many things and staying at home. But this year … Suddenly there came the sound of firecrackers. It was 12 o’clock. Traditionally right as the clock struck 12 o'clock midnight on New Year's Eve, cities and towns were lit up with the glitter from fireworks, and the sound can be deafening. Families stay up for this joyful moment and kids with firecrackers in one hand and a lighter in another cheerfully light their happiness on this especial occasion, even though they plug their ears. At this time, my husband was rustling up our big fireworks too. After a huge BANG BANG, our gate was covered with red fireworks papers.

On the first day of the New Year, getting a bundle of red packets ready which was a red envelope with money in it, ranging from ten to one hundred RMB(Usually the red racket is given by adults, especially married couples, and elderly to young children in the New Year days. It was believed that the money in the red packet will suppress the evil from the children, keep them healthy, and give them a long life), we then started our red packets delivery. It was not a nice game though. In the evening, I rushed to the nearby department store to buy more empty red envelopes. I had not yet expected to get so much lucky money ready.

I am a person who loves to clean.After one day celebration, my house was dirty, disorderly and bad. I tried hard not to do some cleaning .No using of brooms on Chinese New Year. That was the elder’s warning. It was considered unlucky to use a broom to sweep the floor, dump trash, or splash water on that day.

There were many performances, while watching the lion dance was my favourite. It’s a traditional dance performed on joyous festivals and big occasions.The dancers inmitate a lion with various movements and actions, performed in a lion costume, accompanied by the music of beating drums and gong instruments. It is believed that the lion is an auspicious animal that brings good luck.

My first New Year as a married woman was filled with joy and responsibility for the family that was totally different from what I had in the past, which was so free as a single. Although I missed the free life, I love my husband.I enjoyed spending the New Year with responsibility by praying and something like that. And life will go on.Hehe,

Everybody knows that China is physically far away, but what most people don’t know is how many aspects of Chinese life are different, and how many things will surprise you once you get here. Chinese New Year is a good start to know more about it. Happy New Year!

 

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