Chinese New Year

In Thailand there are many Chinese people and Chinese festivals. One of them is the Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is often called Lunar New Year, especially by people in China. It usually takes place in February of every year. In Bangkok, Chinese descendants celebrate Chinese New Year for three days: preparation day, ceremony day, and travelling day.

On the first day or the preparation day, Chinese families buy many things for offerings. They will pour out their money to buy pig’s head, boiled chicken, boiled eggs, fruits and beverages for their dead forefathers and Chinese God. Chinese people always believe that all of these are good things to help them get lucky in their lives. In addition, they buy silver and golden papers, candles, incense, firecrackers, flowers and paper clothing. People usually buy new clothes for wearing on the ceremony day and travelling day. It is also a tradition that every family cleans their houses to sweep away any bad fortune. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with great themes of “wealth” and “longevity”. A part from that, their dead ancestor’s pictures will be cleaned and decorated with flowers before the ceremony day comes.

On the second day, everyone wears new clothes, and would put on their best behavior. In the very early morning Chinese children will greet their parents by wishing a healthy and happy new year. They receive money in red paper envelopes, called “Ung-Pao” . The red envelopes are usually given by adults to children. People give offerings and pay respect three times to Chinese God, their dead ancestors, and wonder spirits. Chinese people must pay respect to their dead ancestors before midday and after that they pay respect to wonder spirits.

On the third day or the travelling day, other name is called “Chu-wic”. There are many exceptions on the travelling day such as not telling lie, not hold the broom and not work. Every family will wake up early, dress in new clothes and set 4 golden oranges on a handkerchief to give them to their senior relatives. The reason that they give the oranges is that orange in china is called “KA” that means golden. Thus, giving the oranges means “giving good luck”. Chinese families will go to meet their relatives, travel in new places and eat out in Chinese restaurants.

Chinese New Year celebration provides an opportunity for Chinese people to reunite and remember their dead ancestors. This is a great way to welcome a new life and New Year. Everyone hopes that everything that will come to their life will be good things only.



References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese New Year
http://www.oknation.net/blog/print.php?id=210582
http://www.c-c-c.org/Chineseculture/festival/newyear/newyear.html