The color red, a Chinese symbol of good luck, is popping up everywhere: Banners and flowers and lanterns, oh my! I attended an event this morning where the speaker spoke about different Chinese customs for the New Years celebrations, traditional foods and the do's and don'ts. There's a whole lot of superstition bundled up in the traditions. For example....
Do not wash your hair for the first 3 days of the New Year. Yikes!
Do not buy new shoes or new clothes for the first month.
Do give money to the children in small red envelopes.
Do let the children stay up late on New Year's Eve. The longer they stay up, the longer the parents will live.
Do not make anyone sad (including kids) on New Years Eve or you will have bad fortune.
Do wear red.
Do not wear black or white (they are symbols of death).
Think about that next time you attend a wedding! Ha!
Think about that next time you attend a wedding! Ha!
Do not sweep the floors for 3 days because you will sweep away your good fortune.
Do not drop your chopsticks or your food. Your rice bowl is a symbol of your career/sustenance, so dropping it is bad luck.
Do visit the elderly.
Do not eat the entire fish for dinner. You must save some of it for next year so your fortune will increase.
Mmmmmm....yummy! Year old fish!
Mmmmmm....yummy! Year old fish!
"Fortune" sure is a wily little bugger; one misstep and he slips away at a moments notice. I'm walking on eggshells just thinking about it. Wait a minute... Are crushed eggshells good or bad luck?!?! Help!!!
2 comments:
Thank you for sharing what you've learned about Chinese New Year! How interesting it all is, really. BTW, I'd love to have you over for an exercise "date" when you return!! I sound like a broken record, but...praying for you today!
Do let the children stay up late on New Year's Eve. The longer they stay up, the longer the parents will live? Who made up this one? Must be an aunt or uncle WITHOUT kids. Ha. Ha. Ha.
kathy
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