The Year of the Horse will soon be trotting out and everyone
is anticipating the advent of the Year of the Golden Ram. Thus effigies of the Golden Ram can be seen
in shopping malls together with red decorations, as red is the auspicious color
that heralds prosperity.
Come the Chinese Lunar New Year’s Eve all roads lead home,
to wherever one’s family home is, for the great reunion dinner. I have flown across the South China Sea to
return for this reunion dinner. In
Chinese culture, this is paramount, coming home to pay respects to one’s elders
and to re-bond over a special dinner which consists of special delicacies which
have symbolic meanings. For example, fish
signifies prosperity, prawns, laughter , so eating these will hopefully usher
in a year of prosperity and laughter.
Oysters, abalone, waxed duck, chicken, etc., etc. can be found on the table.
All sons bring their families back to their
parents’ homes to share this reunion dinner and it is the norm for the younger
people to play card games ( gamble ) throughout the night or until the early
hours of the morning to ensure that their parents will live to a ripe old age.
Fire crackers used to be burnt at the stroke of midnight to usher in the New
Year but because of too many untoward incidents, the Government has banned the
firing of crackers.
On the New Year’s Day, the elders will distribute “ang pows”
( red envelopes containing gifts of money ) to the children and unmarried
adults. The young ones will wish their
elders good health, longevity and prosperity before they receive their ang
pows. Every year the ang pow envelope designs are prettier and
more attractive, either red or gold.
Everyone
will be dressed in new outfits, to signify a new beginning and the color will
be red, different shades of red. Red
flowers will be dominant as evidenced by the floral displays in the
stalls.
Homes have red lanterns, either
round or in the shape of a pineapple which signifies luck. Red paper cuttings, auspicious calligraphy and
decorations contribute to the overall festive mood.
This celebration lasts for 15 days and the final day is
celebrated with the throwing of Mandarin oranges into the sea/lake/river. Ladies write their names/telephone numbers on
the oranges before throwing them away in the hope that young men will fish them
out and from there, a friendship will materialize and eventually lead to the
altar.
Many traditions and customs are linked to this celebration,
not least the traditional lion dances with their loud cymbals and drum beats.
Nowadays the lions leap from pole to pole and this is quite an acrobatic feat
requiring great co-ordination between the two people, one holding the head and
the other acting as the body and hind legs of the lion. At the end of the
dance, the lion eats the oranges or pomelo and the red ang pow. The affluent
invite the lion dance troupe to perform in their homes and the lion actually
goes into the house to drive out negativity and to “clean” the house.
Everyone hopes that the Ram or Goat Year will bring in
better prospects and prosperity for all.
To many it will be a relief to see the last of the Horse which brought
so many calamities.
Gong Xi Fa Cai to every member of the Chinese community who celebrates this Spring Festival. May the Year of the Golden Ram bless us and bring us good health and prosperity.
