Monday, May 26, 2008 something i took from some website for chi pt : Regardless of the year you were born, there are certain customs and superstitions that many Chinese adhere to during the New Year. Shooting off firecrackers on Chinese New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the new. On the stroke of midnight, every door and window in the house has to be opened to allow the old year to go out is one of the Chinese superstition they adhere to.- coincidentally that i on-ed aircon and closed all my windows huh? Many people also abstain from eating meat on the first day of Chinese New Year because it is believed that this will ensure a long and happy life.- i ate tons of meat during dinner Some may eat a whole fish, that represents togetherness and abundance, or a chicken with its head and feet intact, which symbolizes prosperity. Any noodles in your bowl should be left uncut, as a sign of long life. Plants and flowers also play a significant role in symbolizing rebirth and new growth. A home is thought to be lucky if a plant blooms on New Year's Day, as this foretells the start of a prosperous year. Another Chinese superstition is that the entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment are put away. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away, which if you think about it does make some sense. After New Year's Day, the floors may be swept. Beginning at the door, the dust and rubbish are swept to the middle of the parlor, then placed in the corners and not taken or thrown out until the fifth day. At no time should the rubbish in the corners be trampled upon. In sweeping, there is a superstition that if you sweep the dirt out over the threshold, you will sweep one of the family members away. Also, to sweep the dust and dirt out of your house by the front entrance is to sweep away the good fortune of the family; it must always be swept inwards and then carried out, then no harm will follow. All dirt and rubbish must be taken out the back door. All debts had to be paid by this time. Nothing should be lent on this day, as anyone who does so will be lending all the year. Everyone should refrain from using foul language and bad or unlucky words. Negative terms and the word "four", sounding like the word for death, are not to be uttered.- i did Death and dying are never mentioned and ghost stories are totally taboo. References to the past year are also avoided as everything should be turned toward the New Year and a new beginning. If you cry on New Year's Day, you will cry all through the year. Therefore, children are tolerated and are not spanked, even though they are mischievous. On New Year's Day, we are not supposed to wash our hair- HA i did... first ting in d morning because it would mean we would have washed away good luck for the New Year. Red clothing is preferred during this festive occasion. Red is considered a bright, happy color, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future. It is believed that appearance and attitude during New Year's sets the tone for the rest of the year. Children and unmarried friends, as well as close relatives are given little red envelopes with crisp one dollar bills inserted, for good fortune. The first person one meets and the first words heard are significant as to what the fortunes would be for the entire year. It is a lucky sign to see or hear songbirds or red-colored birds or swallows. It is considered unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom so that is why everyone, even the sick, should get dressed and sit in the living room. Do not use knives or scissors on New Year's Day as this may cut off fortune. - i was busy helping cut veges =.= that explains my bad fortune this yr :X ha, no wonder this yr is so..... cos i had a bad beginning. hmphs. lets see if they're anymore funny stuff. haha, chinese pt is so interesting In ancient China, a man could have as many concubines as possible after the first wife.[i pity d wives ): ] It was possible that the youngest concubine would be a teenager while the husband could be an ancient old man.[haha, now i pity d concubines] Poor families sold their young daughters to rich families just because they could get some money from the rich family and also get rid of a useless female in the family. [that's super sad man. lucky i'm not borned in d ancient times] Since 1950, the Chinese government has promulgated a law which stated that one man can only get married with one woman. It offends the law for anyone who has more than one wife. [that's better XD] In the past, parents arranged marriages were very common.[sad sad, no freedom de, even d guy you're gonna marry...] Usually young people would have their spouse decided by their parents. Sometimes young people could only have the first look of their spouse at their wedding. [eeks, wad if you dont like d guy?] It was also common that sometimes an arranged marriage could be organized even before the child was born as long as parents from both families agreed. [omg, so sad lar. wad happens if d other party is like handicap or sth] In modern days, things have changed quite a lot. Free love prevails and lovers can choose to get married with whoever they love. Of course, in order to show their respect to their parents, formal agreement has still to be obtained prior to any proper marriage procedure.[hahas, that's like 1000times better] Even more modern, matchmakers businesses are all thriving just because sometimes people find it a bit hard to find their true love. whaha. interesting facts man. |
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