From 2nd till 6th February, 2011 the nation remains at a standstill. The Chinese New Year is observed in a big way here in Malaysia as well as
around the world in countries populated by Chinese.
Schools, government agencies, factories, banks, businesses and even hospitals
'shut down' during this period.
They do this to allow the masses to head home in other states (and countries)
to join their families in this huge celebration.
(In Malaysia we do not have the four seasons but in China, this occasion heralds
Spring time - the beginning of new life - where flowers bloom and birds sing.
Everything seems to come to life again. And the Chinese people celebrate just that.)
The reunion dinner (2nd February for this year) must surely be the most significant
and closely guarded tradition followed even to this day with much fuss and fervor.
There is great excitement as people plan their exodus usually a week or so before the
actual day.
For those who remain in the big cities, the best part is the traffic. The roads are
virtually empty and driving is sheer bliss. There is something really relaxing and
soothing about cruising on the highway with hardly any traffic and immediately one's
stress level during this period is significantly reduced.
In contrast the smaller towns and villages are bursting at the seams with the influx
of city folks who have come home and all at once there are jams and congestion and
probably rising tempers!
It's packed everywhere - at the restaurants, coffee shops, shopping centres,
markets, cinemas etc. People need a place to go when they are 'home'. For those
who prefer to stay indoor, there is always "mah-jong" to entertain and keep them
occupied. But of course, the best part of the CNY is eating, eating and more eating.
Before the big day, there is frantic shopping, house (and office) spring cleaning,
baking deep into the night, decorating the house in all things red!
Red is not so much used for its representation of 'passion' during this season but
rather for 'good luck'.
Red is also the favorite colour for new clothes and attires for the young and old.
Women delight themselves in elegant red qi-pao. The men must have new shirts and
trousers as these signify 'success and abundance'.
No one seems to complain about this particular tradition!
Everyone loves a good story and what better to tell than the folklore that were
passed down from generation to generation.
Like a million years ago, my grandmother used to chide us when we innocently
washed our hair on the first day of the New Year which was a "no-no" according to
tradition - bad luck, she said.
She also made sure all brooms were removed and kept locked in the utility room
lest one forgot and swept the floor with one.
She insisted that this would sweep away all the good luck and at its worst bad luck
would follow throughout the year!
We were also sternly reprimanded if on the first day, we broke anything even
accidentally. And so we had to be extra careful when we did dishes and there were tons
of them considering the amount of eating!
Some people wouldn't be able to relate today but back then washing dishes was a
duty to be revered!
There were so many rules to follow and no one dared question or defied them.
Those were superstitions that we remembered in our growing years but today
with the advance of the modern world and with Science explaining away a lot of the
'taboos', people are beginning to be less incline to preserve these customs.
Many practices that used to matter in the past, don't anymore and some of them
that still make their rounds during the season have been watered down.
Most people follow them just for fun and don't really think much about them today.
Can you imagine having your children (or grandchildren) kneel with heads bow and
holding a cup of tea with outstretched hand, respectfully inviting you to partake
of their offering before they get their ang-pows on New Year's day? naaaaa.....
I doubt this would work today but you know, in the olden days, this was how they did it ...
"KONG HEE FATT CHOY"
Wishing you accelerated exponential increase and great abundance in every area of your life.
