by Vera H-C Chan
This year, you'll need all the luck you can get.
Searches for "chinese new year" (+53%), "lunar new year" (+141%) and "year of the ox" (30%) have been revving up on Yahoo!. Besides well-wishes, people are looking to up crafts, recipes, and predictions for the year 4707.
Speaking of predictions ? yeah, they're not all good. Some prognosticators are saying the Ox shows no fire in the belly to get the economy up. Others say there's too much fire, and that's not so good. Luckily, President Barack Obama happens to be an Ox man himself and, after initial trouble, might score some diplomatic pluses.
While Lunar New Year may be best known as an event celebrated by the Chinese, cultures such as the Korean, Hmong, Thai, and Vietnamese also observe the holiday. Like any occasion celebrated for nearly 5,000 years, a whole lot of customs, superstitions, and traditions from all over Asia have emerged ? like not cleaning the house on New Year's Day so as not to sweep out good luck.
But, if you want a chance to renew your resolutions, guard your house against evil spirits, and ensure good fortune, here are a few preparations you can make to start the year ... again ... to your advantage.
Sweets for the Sweet
Get an eight-sided prosperity tray for visitors. Usually this tray's stocked with candied ginger, lotus root, lotus seeds, young coconut, melon, and kumquat. Also have round offerings, like pomelos (the Chinese homonym sounds like "to have"), mandarin oranges, and dumplings on hand. Why? Round denotes coming full circle and unity. For a dose of authenticity, "nian'gao" is a glutinous rice flour mixed with sugar and water�then steamed. The word "gao" also translates to "ascension," so eating this helps one ascend in the coming year.
Show Me the Money
New Year cards basically adopted the western tradition of passing paper greetings, and they've been available online for years. But children and unmarried people really reap big this time of year, since they're eligible for the "lai see" or "hungbao," red envelopes stuffed with crisp cash. Ideally, give amounts divisible by two (to symbolize double greetings and appreciation), but single $1 bills can add up to a nice booty. Also, while the economy may not entirely permit you to settle all your debts, traditionally paying off who you owe by the Lunar New Year starts you off on a clean slate.
Getting the Red Up
Households hang up red paper scrolls called "hui chun," red couplets with four-character inscriptions. They typically mean things like "May your spirits be at ease and prosperous," "Peace upon entering and exiting," or "May one get one's heart's desires." Some are meant specifically for the kitchen or door. If you like the look (or are really paranoid), keep them up for year-round luck and to ward off monsters.
What to Burn (and What Not to Burn)
Firecrackers scare off evil spirits, but setting them off in the living room probably violates some fire code. The compromise: hanging fake firecrackers. People do burn incense, often sandlewood, and especially at ancestral shrines, temples, or family burial sites. Finally, you're entitled to burn some so-called "hell money," the fake stuff to pay respect to your forebears and make sure the afterlife's comfortable.
Blossom Anew
Try not to think of global warming, but appreciate any flowers that bloom during New Year festivities: That may signal a particularly good year ahead. Ideal blooms: peach blossom (long life and a charm against evil), kumquat trees, narcissus, and cherry blossoms.
(Yes, in this case, 13's a lucky number)
- Chinese New Year
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- 2009 Year of the Ox Predictions
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- Chinese New Year Songs
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- Chinese New Year 2009 Horoscope
- Happy Chinese New Year in Chinese
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- Chinese New Year Food
- Chinese New Year Wishes
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