Ushering in the new year with Spring Festival
For certain countries in Asia, the new year is scheduled on the day of the second new moon rather than arriving on the same day after a 12-month cycle.
This year Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, landed Jan. 26 and last year was celebrated Feb. 7. Freshman May Bo Hsu, majoring in electrical engineering, said the festival is not a one-day celebration. It usually begins the first day of the first month and then ends on the 15th of that month, but this year the excitement began earlier.
“‘Gun hay fachoy’ is like saying happy new year for my Chinese family. This is the year that my mom was born, the year of the ox,” Hsu said.
Each year is given an animal, which represents qualities that those born in that year will possess. Hsu said the year of the ox promises prosperity through hard work. Those born in the year of the ox are said to be tireless, patient and enduring of difficult tasks in the Chinese culture. However, the ox also possesses bad qualities like intolerance and a gullible nature. Families who celebrate Spring Festival hope that one of their children will be the year of the golden pig because it is looked upon with respect, Hsu said.
Decorations of red and gold fill the houses of those who celebrate Spring Festival. Hsu said red is an important color on this holiday because it is said to ward off evil and to be good luck, so many people wear red clothing during Spring Festival. Other decor includes paper lanterns, dragons, flowers and small trees, all of which bring good luck. Houses are cleaned to near perfection, which is also meant to bring good luck for the coming year. Hsu said taking a shower is not advised on the Chinese New Year because it will wash away one’s luck.
The actual celebration of Chinese New Year consists of firecrackers exploding, Taiko drummers creating background music and parades where the new year dragon makes its appearance. Hsu said a large part of the festivities has to do with food and eating with family members. Qi Zhao is a sophomore majoring in finance whose family lives in China and celebrates Spring Festival every year. He said the Chinese New Year dinner is very important to all Chinese people.
“(It is) the most important dinner of the whole year to a Chinese family,” he said.
He said after he and his family eat dinner, they watch television, play the Chinese card game mah-jong and chat. He said when the night comes to an end, the adults give money to the children. Hsu said her friends in Hong Kong would collect at least $1,000 from their relatives. Even if the adults don’t have a lot to give they will offer what they can.
“It’s just proper,” she said.
Zhao said the present exchange is also quite different in China than in America.
“In America people give presents, but we don’t do that in China. We give money and the children never give anything to their parents. This is how Chinese and American holidays are different,” Zhao said.
Zhao also said when the children grow up and get jobs, they give money to their parents as well as their own children. He said a special program is broadcasted on China Central Television for the new year called Spring Festival Gala Evening, but it is mostly viewed by older citizens of northern China.
Zhao said the reason behind firecrackers has to do with an old legend that the Chinese believe in. The legend states that a monster called the Nian came to China and destroyed the people’s farmland, so firecrackers were used to scare the monster away. Therefore, the firecrackers are an important part of celebration even though this is just a tale, Zhao said.
–catherine.meidell@aggiemail.usu.edu