What is this sorcery?
As always, click on pictures for larger.
Behold, the first time “Chinese New Year” and “shenanigans” have appeared in one sentence everybody.
Chinese New Year is a big deal in Singapore and surrounding countries in Asia. There are a whole lot of traditions, superstitions, customs, rituals, and food that go along with the whole celebration and ethnic Chinese people take it very seriously.
Reading up about it, I can see why these customs are adhered to, as the basis for the celebration is ward off the evil Nian beast that is supposed to appear every new year. People put up red paper and set off firecrackers in the legends to frighten him and now people wear red and put up red displays around Chinese New Year now. Also it was believed that putting out food would stop the attacks and so we have a whole plethora of food related customs surrounding the celebration too.
Seeing as I am not Chinese (not even 0.01% I looked in to it) I don’t get to take part in most of the customary traditions but I did get to see some things this year.
I saw the annual lion dance at work. Two lions do some angry dances, eat some food laid out for them, and leave. When they are dancing there is an ear splitting cacophony of drums and symbols accompanying them. I can’t figure out if the lions are Nians or are just lions celebrating getting rid of the Nians. Somebody needs to enlighten me.
Before Chinese New Year comes around, homes usually clean the house from top to bottom (or get their maids to do it). So we cleaned our house. It wasn’t tradition it’s just that we hadn’t done it in a while. The dustballs were the size of Arizona tumbleweeds.
Along the food line of customary tradition our workplace treated us all to a Chinese New Year dinner. We ate traditional Chinese food and tossed the yusheng which is meant to bring good wishes. The higher the toss the more abundance of fortune you will receive. I think some ingredients are still on the ceiling from our lust for good fortune. I always knew I was a tosser.
The problem I have with Chinese food is that it constantly reminds me that what I’m eating used to be a living thing.
I have to admit, Chinese food is not my favourite in the world. It just doesn’t make sense to my palate.
Other bizarre customs that I didn’t witness first hand but happen nonetheless include:
- On New Year’s Day, you are not supposed to wash your hair. No hair, no problem.
- No lending stuff on New Year’s Day or you will be lending all year. I don’t trust anybody so no problem.
- No crying on New Year’s Day or you will be crying all year. I had my tear ducts surgically removed recently. No problem.
- Do not use knives or scissors on New Year’s Day as it will cut out all the fortune. Problem.
- Do not greet anyone in their bedroom. Unless you’re there to fix the air-con. I don’t greet anyone. No problem.
- Don’t give clocks as gifts; it’s a reminder of our imminent deaths. I don’t give gifts. No problem.
- No ghost stories. I got rattled playing Bioshock recently. No problem.
I’m sure there are others but they seem to be the most prevalent. This year is the year of the monkey (which gives them free reign to accost you while you’re out walking). Figure out what lies in store for you this year by comparing your Chinese zodiac sign to the Monkey at the Chinese Fortune Calendar (made in FrontPage in 1997). If you’re that way inclined. I’m not so I didn’t.
恭喜发财!
Gōng xǐ fā cái!
May you have a prosperous New Year!