It's the time of the year again where homes and malls are flushed with the lucky colour of red and gold. This time, the Lunar New Year falls on 31st of January and is the year of the Wooden Horse. This auspicious festival, also known as the Spring Festival, is celebrated by the those who follow the Lunar Calendar, for example the Chinese, and the Koreans. In Malaysia, the main ethnic group which celebrates this are the Chinese.
In the old Chinese myths told to young children, Lunar New Year wasn't very festive to begin with. Annually, the Nian (lion) creature would visit the villages in China and feast on the crops and livestock. It was only until the villagers discovered that the Nian was afraid of the colour red were they able to overcome it. There are variants to this discovery, one was when the Nian was repulsed by a child wearing red and the other when a monk took off his clothes, revealing his red undergarments. The villagers then decorated their homes in the colour of red to repel the Nian, and to further drive it away, they played loud music (drums and gongs) and lit up firecrackers.
And so, in modern times, people decorate their homes with red Chinese characters (Luck, Wealth, Health, Prosperity, Longevity, etc.) and lanterns. Some even make an effort to purchase and play firecrackers (on the Eve, First Day and Last Day). It has also become a tradition for people to buy new clothes in the colour of red. Usually 3 days before the New Year, families would perform Spring Cleaning. The reason for so is to start fresh and welcome the luck the new year will bring. It is probably the most favourite holiday for the singles, as they are eligible to receive ang paos (red packets with money in it) from married relatives. In other words, a very wallet-draining festival for married people with many single relatives.
In my case, my family is no exception when it comes to cleaning our home. We did this on the week before the New Year as we had a large area of floors to wash, rooms to clean, curtains and bedsheets to change and wash, and getting rid of accumulated items. Our brand new and unused items that we have kept over the years were donated to a charity bazaar to raise funds for the less fortunate. One man's trash is another man's treasure, and doing charitable things would bring more merits, wouldn't it? Since my room is pretty neat and tidy most of the time (I am a stress-cleaner), I only ever need to reorganize my items. But, I will admit that I have a dangerous cupboard where I store all my make-up, costumes, props, materials and some of my parents' clothing. To anyone who opens the cupboard, I am not responsible for any of your injuries. Anyway, back to the story, I am pretty proud of myself because I helped out around the house more than I usually should, and I have aches and scars to prove it (I probably aged 10 years in the process as well).
On the Eve, I tagged along with my mum and went to buy ingredients for our humble steamboat dinner. We were still unable to finish the ingredients within the two days of having steamboat, even after buying less than we did in the previous year as we didn't want any wastage. Well, I guess our appetite has shrank, less to buy next year then. After dinner, I ran up to my room, throw on my old cheongsam and took a few pictures as a season's greeting to my Facebook page followers.
And so, in modern times, people decorate their homes with red Chinese characters (Luck, Wealth, Health, Prosperity, Longevity, etc.) and lanterns. Some even make an effort to purchase and play firecrackers (on the Eve, First Day and Last Day). It has also become a tradition for people to buy new clothes in the colour of red. Usually 3 days before the New Year, families would perform Spring Cleaning. The reason for so is to start fresh and welcome the luck the new year will bring. It is probably the most favourite holiday for the singles, as they are eligible to receive ang paos (red packets with money in it) from married relatives. In other words, a very wallet-draining festival for married people with many single relatives.
In my case, my family is no exception when it comes to cleaning our home. We did this on the week before the New Year as we had a large area of floors to wash, rooms to clean, curtains and bedsheets to change and wash, and getting rid of accumulated items. Our brand new and unused items that we have kept over the years were donated to a charity bazaar to raise funds for the less fortunate. One man's trash is another man's treasure, and doing charitable things would bring more merits, wouldn't it? Since my room is pretty neat and tidy most of the time (I am a stress-cleaner), I only ever need to reorganize my items. But, I will admit that I have a dangerous cupboard where I store all my make-up, costumes, props, materials and some of my parents' clothing. To anyone who opens the cupboard, I am not responsible for any of your injuries. Anyway, back to the story, I am pretty proud of myself because I helped out around the house more than I usually should, and I have aches and scars to prove it (I probably aged 10 years in the process as well).
On the Eve, I tagged along with my mum and went to buy ingredients for our humble steamboat dinner. We were still unable to finish the ingredients within the two days of having steamboat, even after buying less than we did in the previous year as we didn't want any wastage. Well, I guess our appetite has shrank, less to buy next year then. After dinner, I ran up to my room, throw on my old cheongsam and took a few pictures as a season's greeting to my Facebook page followers.
The following day was the First Day of Lunar New Year, so my family went to the nearby hotel and watched the lion dance performance. It is a believe than the loud music from the lion dance as well as the Nian dancing around will chase off the lingering misfortune and darkness to bring in new luck. Usually, a troupe can be hired to perform for homes or business area, as to bring fortune to the business. In these performances, it is a norm for a pair of lions (one female, one male) to curiously dance around, hop on stilts to reach and unravel a red envelope or scroll hung at the ceiling or pillars, and eat (peel and decorate) a tray of mandrins and lettuce (cái, homophone to cái which means fortune). The images below are some pictures I took of the Nians (very furry and cute creatures, nothing to be afraid of since they are docile)
So after the performance, we went off to visit my relatives in KL. The first stop was to a Chinese Temple, which my first aunt takes care of. To be honest, every time I go to a temple, I am lost on how to pray properly >.<'' But, I did pray sincerely (in English to the deities) to thank them for protecting and helping me out throughout 2013, and asked to be bless with better health and luck (I get injured easily and my luck was immense last year). Of course, I did ask to bless my family too. After that, we went to my second aunt's place where I saw my grandmother (the other 3 grandparents I had were long gone before I was born, so I only know of one grandparent). I approached her warmly and greeted her (thrice while standing in front of her), but she only coldly replied in 5 words and proceeded to ignore me. Now, it's not like I mistreated her in the past so don't get the wrong idea. But I grew up not knowing the love and warmth of a grandmother, so I am used to it. I won't take her mistreatment as an excuse to be rude to an elderly. To those who still have living grand-relatives, cherish your relationship with them as not everyone is as fortunate as you. I remember my classmate who was crying when she found out her dear grandfather was terminally ill, and she was afraid to visit him as it was his dying wish to see her. I told her, if it is his dying wish, go to him, spend time with him, make him happy and let him leave peacefully and contented. This applies to your other relatives too. Every moment is precious, don't let it go to waste. If you can mend the relationship, do it.
Okay, enough with the sentiments. My second aunt's treatment was contrast to my grandmother's. She is super kind and friendly, even my cousins who were there. Of course, my cousin's dog was very pleased when I stroke him for about 17 minutes while he was lying below my seat. What can I say, I do have an affinity with animals. After staying there for about an hour, we went to visit my second uncle and stayed for a while to chat. Well, my family were, I was asleep (unintentionally though!).
So that wraps up this year's Lunar New Year experience for me~ Definitely less angpau than the previous years, but as long the tour of duty was done, we are set and ready for a fresh new year.
Thanks for reading!
Ara Yoake
Okay, enough with the sentiments. My second aunt's treatment was contrast to my grandmother's. She is super kind and friendly, even my cousins who were there. Of course, my cousin's dog was very pleased when I stroke him for about 17 minutes while he was lying below my seat. What can I say, I do have an affinity with animals. After staying there for about an hour, we went to visit my second uncle and stayed for a while to chat. Well, my family were, I was asleep (unintentionally though!).
So that wraps up this year's Lunar New Year experience for me~ Definitely less angpau than the previous years, but as long the tour of duty was done, we are set and ready for a fresh new year.
Thanks for reading!
Ara Yoake