Chinese New Year

Hello Everybody,

Here comes the Chinese New Year again. During this festive season we can feel the heat in most places we are especially in the countries and communities that celebrating it, like here in Kuching. It’s always about the culture, the warm homey feeling, families relationship, fun and laughter but never forget those who are gone and the under privileged.

Another great thing about it is the food, food and food!! As for children, this is a good time to get lots and lots of “ang pau” (the red packet with money inside). Don’t forget about the red colour. It’s the colour for Chinese New Year theme colour and I have a little legend about this to share with everyone. Maybe everybody knows about it but it’s no harm to refresh our memories again right.

According to the legend, Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nien. On the first day of New Year, this Nien would come to gobble livestock, crops, and even human, especially children. As a way to protect themselves, people would put lots of food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nien ate the food they prepared, it wouldn’t attack any more people. (Obviously, the Nien attacked because of hungry! Am I right?) There was also once mentioned that people saw the Nien was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then understood that the Nien was afraid of the colour red. Therefore, since then each time when the New Year is around the corner, people would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls around their house to scare Nien away. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nien. The Nien was eventually said to be captured by Hongjun Laozu, an ancient Taoist monk. The Nien became Hongjun Laozu's mount. Correct me if I’m wrong.

As for now, we use fire cracker and fireworks as symbol of celebration and festivities while red lanterns can definitely make beautiful festival decorations. Share with me what’s in your mind.

Happy Chinese to all of you. Wish you all a prosperous new year…