Today, as my mom and I began to look through cookbooks and plan for Chinese New Year this Thursday, I decided to share about the Chinese New Year with everyone. It's a great holiday. First, if you are looking to re-make that New Year's resolution you failed to start on New Year's, this is the perfect opportunity to start. This, along with many more positives sums up Chinese New Year. First, you eat lots of yummy food. I mean who does not like food? Not me. Plus, my mom makes enough food for 20 people when she is only feeding a handful on Chinese New Year. Another quality of Chinese New Year is that you do not clean or do work on the day. It is said to be bad luck to clean because if you clean you might ward away or throw out your luck for the coming year. And you are supposed to relax and not work so....in English class on Thursday, I will not do work (not actually though, I'm not that rebellious). Next, you get money! Every relative either gives the money to you in a small red folder or mails it. This is the big holiday and I get more lucky money envelopes than birthday presents from relatives. Non-married adults and children get the money so up until you get married, you get a large sum of money on Chinese New Year! Also, saying bad words, let alone fighting with someone on Chinese New Year is a terrible sign. Families and friends have to watch themselves so as not to fight on this day; a fight represents a warful and negative future year- don't start a fight with me on Thursday. Any other day, totally acceptable. Also, most Chinese watch a dragon dance. Although my family will not watch one this year, I just recently saw one at my grandma's birthday party. Yeah, we get dragon dances to celebrate an 80 year old's birthday. We're that awesome. Overall, on Chinese New Year, you are forbidden to do work, you eat lots of delicious food, receive ridiculous amounts of money, and watch some random dragon dance. If you ask me it's a pretty good deal. If you want to experience this, come on over to my house Thursday night!
Jillian, before reading this post, I thought that the Chinese New Year was just another somewhat normal day, just like the other New Year on January 1st. I had no idea that it was a special day of luck and kindness. I might stop by Thursday night for some of JJ's delicious food.
ReplyDeleteJillian, this is very interesting. Based on your recent post about the Chinese "Tiger Mother" I figured this holiday would consist of a mother and father together analyzing each homework assignment that their child completed during the previous year and then criticizing each and every small mistake. I figured the parents would have a lesson plan figured out in advance so they could maximize the evening by doing as much yelling and screaming as possible. I cannot believe that your culture allows for a day of rest when you do not need to be working every single second to try to equal yourselves with the American's natural abilities. Instead, you engage in a silly day filled with superstition. Call me crazy, but I simply expected more from the Chinese.
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