On the eve of the eve of Chinese New Year, if you need somebody to lend you a hand or you need anything you can now pretty much forget it until next Monday. Tomorrow is the last minute preparations before the year of the rabbit is ushered in on Thursday. It’s a busy, busy day for most Singapore households.
I’ve mentioned previously that Chinese New Year is based on very many superstitions. There are a number of things that need doing before midnight tomorrow. The New Year has to be seen in brand new and fresh.
All debts need to be paid and or collected and nothing should be lent or it is said that person will be ‘lending all year’. Past hurts and quarrels need to be resolved. Houses need to be cleaned thoroughly, beginning at the door and brushed to the middle of the room, then placed in the corners and not thrown out until the 5th day. Brushing dirt over the threshold could mean losing a family member that year. On New Year’s Eve all brushes, buckets and mops have to be put away and no cleaning should be done on New Year’s Day at all for fear of sweeping away good fortune.
It is believed that if you cry on new year’s day you will cry for the rest of the year so children are never scolded during this time, just in case J.
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| Little M's Kindergarten Celebrations |
A great deal of care needs to be taken on appearance. New clothes are bought for each family member, preferably red to ensure a bright future. Hair cuts are done before the eve and hair shouldn’t be washed on NY’s day as it would mean that you are washing away your luck
Everybody should refrain from using bad language and there should be no mention of death or dying. Do not use knives or scissors as it will cut away good fortune. Children and unmarried friends are given little red envelopes with crisp new money, preferably in even numbers for good fortune, called angbao’s.
Tomorrow evening, the eve of the New Year, it is the traditional family dinner. You would need a pretty good excuse to miss this! The most important family ritual of the year. The "reunion" dinner as it is referred to.
While many Chinese people today may not believe in these do's and dont's, these traditions and customs are still practised. These traditions and customs are kept because most families realize that it is these very traditions, whether believed or not, that provide continuity with the past and provide the family with an identity.
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| Little M's School Celebrations |
We don’t celebrate CNY but welcome the three day holiday gladly.
If you are celebrating I wish you
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Until the next time
Beth x
Thank you for taking the time to read my post
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