Chinese Holidays and Customs

By Dhaval Doshi CHINESE HOLIDAYS AND CUSTOMS CHINESE CALENDAR : NOT SO COMPLICATED  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nswpZ8Dbd MQ WESTERN VERSUS CHINESE CALENDAR  In the Western calendar terminology: Decade = 10 years Century = 100 years Millennium = 1,000 years For example, 2006 is in the Third Millennium, 21-th Century, first decade and 6-th year.  In Chinese calendar terminology: Great Year = 12 years Cycle = 5 Great Years = 60 years Epoch = 60 Cycles = 60 x 60 years = 3,600 years Year 2006 is in the Second Epoch, 18th Cycle, 23rd Year CHINESE CALENDAR  Currently we are in the 78th sixty year cycle which began February 2, 1984 and ends in the year 2044 bringing in the new millennium. CHINESE CALENDAR The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days, and cannot be synchronized with the solar year.  The Chinese calendar usually has 12 months in the year, rounded off to 29 or 30 days 354 days in total.  The new moon is always on the first day of the month, and the full moon on the fifteenth.   The Chinese saying "this is the animal that hides in your heart" is coined from the strong belief that the animal that rules the year of your birth has a tremendous impact on who you are CHINESE ZODIAC CALENDAR  http://www.5min.com/Video/Chinese-Zodiac12-Animals-Symbols-74314832 CHINESE NEW YEAR: WHEN Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-year cycle), the way Western societies add an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year  Depending on the "age" of the moon on Winter Solstice, the second new moon could arrive anywhere from 30 to 59 days later. The Chinese New Year can fall as early as January 21 and as late as February 19.  WHY CHINESE NEW YEAR?  Chinese New Year has been celebrated for over 2000 years. According to an ancient legend, people were tormented by a large-mouthed beast called Nian, who could devour several people in a single gulp. When an old man tricked the beast into disappearing, a great celebration followed, and was repeated every year. TIME TO REUNITE AND RENEW  It is opportune time to celebrate the end of winter and the fertility and rebirth that arrived with spring. Chinese New Year celebrations revolve around family reunions, "turning over a new leaf", getting rid of the old and welcoming the new, and wishing everyone good fortune for the coming year. LIKE ANY CELEBRATION, CHINESE NEW YEAR IS ABOUT BEING WITH YOUR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy4PqT1Pm 6M DAY 1  The first day celebrations of the Chinese New Year are by "welcoming of the gods of the heavens and earth." Many people go without meat on the first day of the Chinese New Year because it is believed that this will ensure long and happy lives for them. DAY 2  The second day celebrations marks, the Chinese prayers to their ancestors as well as to all the gods. They are extra kind to dogs and feed them well as it is believed that the second day is the birthday of all dogs. DAY 3 & 4  The third and fourth days are for the sons-inlaws to pay respect to their parents-in-law. On this day of the Chinese New Year , son-in-laws present gifts and other items to show their love and care for their parents-in-law. DAY 5  The fifth day of the Chinese New Year is called Po Woo. On this day people stay home to welcome the God of Wealth. No one visits families and friends on the fifth day because it will bring both parties bad luck. DAY 6  On the sixth to the tenth day of the Chinese New Year , the Chinese visit their relatives and friends indulging in fun and celebrations . They also visit the temples to pray for good fortune and health. DAY 7 Farmers display their produce on the seventh day of the Chinese New Year .  On this day the farmers make a drink from seven types of vegetables to mark the celebration of the occasion.  Considered the birthday of human beings.  Noodles are eaten to promote longevity and raw fish for success.  DAY 8  Celebrations on the eighth day take a full swing with the Fujian (a province in China) people having another family reunion dinner, and at midnight praying to Tian Gong, the God of Heaven. DAY 9 The ninth day of the Chinese New Year is to make offerings to the Jade Emperor  Families often offer sweet foods (such as candy) in order to "bribe" the deities into reporting good things about the family to the emperor  DAY 10 TO 13 The 10th through the 12th day's celebrations are days that friends and relatives should be invited for dinner.  After so much rich food, on the 13th day you should have simple rice congee and mustard greens (choi sum) to cleanse the system.  DAY 14 AND 15  The 14th day are for preparations for the celebration the Lantern Festival, which is to be held on the 15th night.  Chinese New Year Spring Festival Gala – 2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_CWdW_E JvA&feature=related  Chinese New Year Spectacular- NTDTV Worldwide Show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyxI-cj-29c CHINESE NEW YEAR FIREWORKS:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j07oLBSaR E0 Astro Chinese New Year 2009 Song: Qing Zhu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkxGscPsFcc  CHINESE WEDDING CUSTOMS Rich families will look for a bride who can take care of household finances and most importantly, give birth to sons to inherit the wealth of the family. Poor families will look for a bride who can work hard in the fields and give birth to sons to help out on the farm.  Hence the Chinese saying: bamboo door is to bamboo door as wooden door is to wooden door.  CHINESE WEDDING CUSTOMS  The three letters (sent by groom) :  Request Letter – confirmation  Gift Letter – gift list  Wedding Letter – on wedding day STEPS - “SIX-ETIQUETTE”       Request to Bride: the family will hire a spokeswoman who will communicate their wish to the potential bride's family Request for birthdates: a fortune telling master will be hired to determine whether the two match each other. If there is nothing wrong with the bride's birth-date, the groom's family will proceed to the next step. Otherwise, there will be no further contact between the families and the groom's family may look for another suitable bride. Initial Gifts for the Bride's Family Formal Gifts for the Bride's Family (gifts, cash, cakes and food and sacrifices for worshiping the ancestors) Wedding Date Selection – done by fortune-teller Wedding Day itself WEDDING DAY Houses are decorated in red  Procession with servants, musicians to bride’s home to get her  Worshipping and other small rituals  Groom gets Money for tea!   Bride’s red veil can be revealed  TRADITIONAL CHINESE WEDDING  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaYBfomM 4E4&NR=1 Chinese Traditional Wedding in Modern Times: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbTtjjdDt04&f eature=related  CHINESE FUNERAL CUSTOMS  Chinese funeral rites and burial customs are determined by the age, the manner of the death, the status and position in society and the marital status of the deceased. YOUNG, UNMARRIED OR A CHILD: NO FUNERAL CUSTOMS  According to Chinese custom, an older person should not show respect to a younger. Thus, if the deceased is a young bachelor his body cannot be brought home but is left in a funeral parlour. His parents cannot offer prayers for their son: being unmarried he has no children to perform these rites either. If a baby or child dies no funeral rites are performed, as respect cannot be shown to a younger person: the child is buried in silence. PREPARATIONS AT HOME All statues of deities in the house are covered with red paper  Mirrors removed from sight, as it is believed that one who sees the reflection of a coffin in a mirror will shortly have a death in their own family  A white cloth will be hung across the doorway of the house and a gong placed on the left of the entrance if the deceased is male and right if female.  CORPSE PREPARATION The corpse is cleaned with a damp towel, dusted with talcum powder and dressed in their best clothes  The body is completely dressed, including footwear, and cosmetics if female, but it is not dressed in red clothes (as this will cause the corpse to become a ghost)  The corpse's face is covered with a yellow cloth and the body with a light blue one  Put in coffin  THE WAKE The coffin is placed on its own stand either in the house, if the person has died at home, or in the courtyard outside the house, if the person has died away from home.  The coffin is not sealed during the wake.  Food is placed in front of the coffin as an offering to the deceased.  Comb of the deceased is cut into halves – placed in coffin and with family  THE WAKE At the wake, the family of the deceased gathers around the coffin, positioned according to their order in the family  They wail and mourn to show respect – more if deceased has left a lot of wealth  Funeral guests are required to light incense for the deceased and to bow as a sign of respect to the family.  Donation box  FUNERAL CEREMONY Coffin is nailed  Placed in a hearse  Occasionally paper models of objects such as cars, statues ships etc. are carried with the procession symbolizing the wealth of the deceased’s family.  BURIAL Chinese cemeteries are generally located on hillsides as this is thought to improve the feng shui  The further up the hill the grave is, the better its situation is thought to be.  Should turn away when the coffin is being buried to avoid bad luck  THE RETURN OF THE DECEASED Seven days after the death of a family member the soul of the departed will return home  A red plaque with suitable inscription may be placed outside the house at this time to ensure the soul does not become lost  On the day of the return of the soul, family members are expected to remain in their rooms.  Talcum powder may be dusted on the floor of the entrance hall of the home to detect the visit of the deceased.  Chinese Funeral - taking the coffin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkqwSROYOxs Chinese (Taoist) Traditions - Funeral Ritual http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beDWJKn1K7 E THANK YOU FOR LISTENING… AND WATCHING! 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