Chinese New Year and Superstitions - by Isobael Liu
According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nien. Nien would come on the first day of New Year to devour livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nien ate the food they prepared, it wouldn’t attack any more people.
When the people saw the Nien was frightened by a little child wearing red, the villagers understood that the Nien was afraid of the colour red. Hence, every time when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would decorate their homes and village by hanging red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nien, starting the use of firecrackers at New Years, as well as other celebrations. The Nien was eventually captured by Hong Jun Lao Zu (Lao Zu means teacher), an ancient Taoist monk. The Nien became the monk’s mount.
With that, here's a few superstitions about the New Year...
Before the New Years, you should give your home a full “spring” cleaning, but once New Years Day arrives, don’t clean your house! To do so means you’ll clean out all the good luck and you’ll have bad luck for the rest of the year! Along with this, open your windows. Opening windows is inviting good luck into your home.
No ghost stories for New Year either. In Chinese belief, ghosts are not good. Very inauspicious, so no stories about death, dying, or ghosts. (Doesn’t bode well for paranormal authors, does it?)
Wear and decorate with red. Red is extremely lucky for the Chinese. It symbolizes wealth, happiness and life. (My wedding dress was red!) Hang red banners or luck signs, and wear red. Most importantly, avoid the colour white (in clothing and food) as it signifies death.
Eat candy! How the kids will love this! Eating sweets on Chinese New Year is inviting you to have a “sweet” year.
Lastly, put away all your sharp, pointy objects. Sharp objects are believed to cut away your good luck. Along these lines, don’t get your hair cut during New Year as it cuts away your luck as wel
Isobael Liu
Where magick dances in the moonlight and wild things come to play... "Moonlight and Magick", debut novel - available May 3rd, 2010
Before the New Years, you should give your home a full “spring” cleaning, but once New Years Day arrives, don’t clean your house! To do so means you’ll clean out all the good luck and you’ll have bad luck for the rest of the year! Along with this, open your windows. Opening windows is inviting good luck into your home.
No ghost stories for New Year either. In Chinese belief, ghosts are not good. Very inauspicious, so no stories about death, dying, or ghosts. (Doesn’t bode well for paranormal authors, does it?)
Eat candy! How the kids will love this! Eating sweets on Chinese New Year is inviting you to have a “sweet” year.
Lastly, put away all your sharp, pointy objects. Sharp objects are believed to cut away your good luck. Along these lines, don’t get your hair cut during New Year as it cuts away your luck as wel
Isobael Liu
Where magick dances in the moonlight and wild things come to play... "Moonlight and Magick", debut novel - available May 3rd, 2010
posted by Terry Kate at
11:17 AM
4 Comments:
This is so cool. I knew it was Chinese New Year, but I had no idea about the traditions for luck. Thanks for the great post:)
Great post. Thank you for this information, I had no knowledge of it.
Is it too late to start the New Year? ;-)
What an interesting post! I echo Dani's questions, is it too late for this year? :) Best luck to you, Isobael, with your debut! And always,...Julianne
Thanks for the comments! Chinese New Year day was the 14th, but the festival itself runs up to 15 days.
Plenty of time to have some fun for the New Year. =)
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