Yet another "New Year"

Alright, alright, it took me quite a long time to finally wish you (second time within a month only..) a prosperous (Chinese) New Year or 恭喜发财 (Gong Xi Fa Cai)!

Chinese New Year, or Springfestival - summary in 16 words: Crash Boom Bang, good and plentiful food, family and lots of traditions to keep in mind - is rather big and without any doubt one of the most important and popular events in China. So what is "Spring festival", starting on the first day of the lunar calendar each year and lasting for 15 days, all about?

Duration: From New Year (Chu Yi) to Yuanxiao 15 days later. In between the second (Chu Er), fifth (Po Wu or "throw out fifth") and seventh day have a special signification.

Origin of the festival: The original myth of spring festival varies in its details but generally puts a lot of weight on the agricultural cycle (especially important during the pre-modern age when agriculture was still the primary concern of common people) and involves a magical young boy called Nian (today the Chinese character for year). This courageous young bloke drove off a monster named Xi which was menacing the harvest and livestock and with it the villagers. Reportedly Xi was frightened off by a lot of red and incredibly loud noise.

Even though at a lesser extent than for example in Europe the influence of "modern times" and the consequent shift of focus from family to spectacle are noticeable also in China. Some of the numerous traditions resulting from the original myth have, therefore, paled somewhat or continue to be practiced only by the older generation(s). Nevertheless, heaps of traditions and rules persist and, for "Wessies" as me, vary from being fun, interesting to outright weird:

Rules and traditions that are reportedly more relevant to older generations than to the new (urban) ones:

• On “Chu Er” (2nd day of Year) one (as Beijing ren) was to pay a mandatory visit to Wu Xian Temple where the five gods of Wealth (Wulu Caishen) housed. The fastest to do some kowtows ( kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground in expression of deep respect, worship, or submission) at their altars and to light incense was the most likely to profit from good luck and wealth during the year to come.
• Reportedly, what used to be an elbowing match of speed (Guess that was one of the moments of the year when people were most creative) turned into a war of the wallets and who is able to make the greatest “contribution” .. Quite paradoxical result: one buys ones wealth.
• Do not sweep the floor or throw anything away until the fifth day (P0 Wu) of Spring festival:
  
• > Reason: Every speck of dust or dirt symbolized wealth and was therefore not to be removed from the house. Reportedly people went as far as sweeping dust from the street and into their houses hoping to profit from good fortune.
• >> Oh boy, If this rule still applied I (as a convinced chaotic and “pile up the dirty dishes until mushrooms grow on them” –er) would be freaking fortunate and rich (but probably still disgusting..;)
  

• Get rid of old shoes before “Chu Yi(1)” and do not buy any during the 30 days to follow.
  
• > Reason: Shoe (Xie) sounds like the word “Evil” (Xie’e). Hence, to throw out old shoes past midnight hour or buy them during the first 30 days of the year signified bad luck
• >> now, that's an easy one for an unmoivated shopper as I am

• Do not cut your hair during the first 30 days of the year
  
• > Reason: If you do so, the brother of your mother is going to suffer from bad luck (somewhat scarier versions go as far as: he will die)
• >> I truly hope that this rule does not apply to foreigners, since it's only February 12th and I already look like Bon Jovi during his best years.. Heinz (the concerning uncle), I promise to try not to succumb to my vanity...

Traditions that are still largely respected and traditions that have undergone some modifications:

• Wear red, decorate your house in red, wear a red belt (especially the ones born in the respective year or the year minus x*12 years; the "dogs" in 2006 (Nick (see pic on the right) is one of these "humble, responsible and patient" dogs)), wear red underwear,..
  
• > Reason: according to the original myth, the monster (sometimes also the "evil spirits". Well, something nasty in any case..) was scared away at the help of the colour red. The colour therefore stands for luck and wealth (and not so much for Com munism/Com munists, even though the latter probably like the fact that the colour was and still is red rather than any other colour)
  

• The menu is largely predetermined
• prepare tons of Giao(4) ze (dumplings or somewhat more Westernized: Chinese style ravioli) since they symbolize gold ingots. Eat them on New Year's Eve.
  
• Other dishes typical for Spring festival: steamed mantou, steamed doubao and nian gao. Also clams and spring rolls are served because their shapes represent wealth: clams look like bullion and spring rolls are shaped like bars of gold. To mention one more: Also fish can play an important role as the word for fish (yu(2)) sounds a bit like the word for abundance. Hence: serve a fish > wish prosperity
  

• PutYasui money into little red pockets and hand them over to children
  
• >Reason: Interpretation I've read but not quite understood yet: avoid that they grow up too quickly.. Anyone out there willing to "enlighten" me?
• Other interpretations have extended the group of receipients to unmarried persons as well. Jeje, liked this version a lot until I found out that this rule does not apply to foreigners.. :( Whatever, am still a convinced "single"..
  
• But hey, I've still received my little red pocket, since McDonald’s has adapted the idea and distributed vouchers for sprite, coke, etc. in the form of little pockets.. commercialised culture.. yek..
  

• Setting off strings of firecrackers / fireworks
• This part is worth a post of its own as Chinese apparently still very much believe in the value of noise so as to scare away the evil spirits... (or so...). As for now: Beijing resembled a warzone.. Craaaazzzzyyyyy!!

• Watch the 4hour CCTV Spring Festival Gala. One of these new but stunningly popular "traditions" that was introduced in 1983. Roughly 99% of all Chinese I asked have actually seen this show which is a mixture of comedy, com munism and commerce.
  

• Visit Temple fairs. Go marvel at dragon dances, "little emperors" on poles, see people light incense in front of temples, buy plastic wind wheels, mice, go to weird "snake" shows during which artists insert snakes into one of their nostrils only to take them out through their mouth again.., savour scorpions on sticks, etc etc.. truly stunning.

Well, let me ad some random thoughts / facts in bullet point style:

• Don't expect to get hold of a train, plane or bus ticket during Chinese spring festival. Why? Imagine 1'200'000'000 people out of which an estimated 40% decide to travel on the same day(s) so as to be with their family.. Chinese sources speak of the biggest movement of humanity on earth (sounds dramatic, doesn't it...) during this period and stories of exploding sales of diapers for adults, etc circulate, more
• Beijing during Spring Festival felt like Paris in August or "Zermatt (ski resort in CH-Alps) in Winter - inverted". While Zermatt passes from 4'000 to 34'000 inhabitants during holiday season, Beijing shrinks from roughtly 15'000'000 to way less (yes, I am precise as that...;) - just imagine: there were almost no traffic jams!!
  

All those that have read this post until the end: "Chapeau". May you have started your New Year with plenty of garbage on the floor and neatly cut hair. :)