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I’m sure you guys are wondering what the heck my title means, am I correct? Well, if you understood my title, you can basically disregard the introduction paragraph of my post, but if you want to know more, please make sure you read this. The phrase “Gong Xi Fa Cai” is Chinese (technically Mandarin pronounced) and it is translated into “Happy Chinese New Year”. I’m not going to be racist or anything like that here, but I must say that Asians are almost everywhere now and even the population rate is high for Asians. In Beijing, China, there is a law that is supposedly going to prevent families from having more than ONE child, but I personally do not think that this law will do much. Hey, I’m Chinese, so I have the right to talk about my own race here (I hope) and I’m going to dedicate this post to the Chinese tradition, Chinese New Year. Although I do understand that I’m late 2 days, I still want you guys to get to know this tradition (even Google/Yahoo’s homepage were following).

Mythology

I must admit that I’m not that familiar with this tradition since I am the first generation born in the States, but I’m researching as much as I can to get you guys the true meaning.

According to the legend in Ancient China, there was a man-eating beast from the mountains (or under the sea), Nián, which came out every 12 months to prey on humans. Another meaning of the word, Nián, is that it translate to the word YEAR in English. The people in Ancient China believed that wearing the color red and making loud noises (fireworks) would scare this beast away. Because of this came the Chinese term, Guò nián, which means to celebrate the new year. Another thing is that the Ancient Chinese used a different type of Calendar, Lunisolar, which indicates both the moon phase and the time of the solar year. I really don’t understand the concept of this Calendar, but my Grandma still goes by it for her birthday and the date is totally different from the Calendar most of us use today.

Apparently, some of us bloggers know more than others and I think that Stephen Fung brought up an interesting version of Chinese New Year as there are more than one.

Like many Chinese things, I don’t quite understand them, even though they are a part of my heritage. It’s like getting “Yeet Hay” when you eat fried foods, or having to eat every grain of rice in your bowl because it will affect the complexion of your future wife. Asking elders to explain them is like pulling teeth and we are then just told, “it’s just the way things are”. So what’s the deal with the Rat? I mean, compared to the Dragon, Horse, Rabbit, heck…even the Sheep, the Rat doesn’t have that great of a reputation as a “noble” animal.

Apparently, the story goes that the twelve animals that make up the Chinese Zodiac were asked to cross a river and the order in which they crossed would dictate the rotation of the Zodiac. Since the Rat is a…Rat…it jumped on the back of the Ox and rode all the way, leaping off the Ox at the last minute to clinch the win and the first place on the Zodiac. Sounds pretty dirty…borderline evil. I wonder if John Chow is a Rat?

The Infamous Red Envelopes

This envelope is known as “Hong Bao” or “Lai See” in Catonese, which is a huge tradition in this Chinese festivity known as Chinese New Year. These envelopes comes in any size and design, which includes cartoon characters and can range anywhere from $2 for a pack of 20 to $5 for a pack of 10. It’s during this time of the year that families and friends give out these envelopes and the good thing is, there is money inside and it ranges anywhere from a few dollars to a few hundred, depending on who you receive it from.

Of course the newer generation of Chinese born here in America does not follow the traditions as much, but if they do, the envelopes would usually consist of an even number because it is good luck. Another amount if the infamous number 8, which means “Fa” in Chinese and translate to Wealthy. If you were to give out $18, it means Continuous Wealth because the number 10 means Guaranteed when translated to English.

Another tradition of these red envelopes is that you’re only suppose to give them out if you’re married. My wife and I love receiving these from family and friends during this time of the year because adding both of our “LAI SEE” together, we get a few hundred dollars

Superstitions (Source: Wikipedia)

Good luck

• Opening windows and/or doors is considered to bring in the good luck of the new year.
• Switching on the lights for the night is considered good luck to ’scare away’ ghosts and spirits of misfortune that may compromise the luck and fortune of the new year.
• Sweets are eaten to ensure the consumer a “sweet” year.
• It is important to have the house completely clean from top to bottom before New Year’s Day for good luck in the coming year. (however, as explained below, cleaning the house after New Year’s Day is frowned upon)
• Some believe that what happens on the first day of the new year reflects the rest of the year to come. Asians will often gamble at the beginning of the year, hoping to get luck and prosperity.
• Wearing a new pair of slippers that is bought before the new year, because it means to step on the people who gossip about you.
• The night before the new year, bathe yourself in pomelo leaves and some say that you will be healthy for the rest of the new year.

Bad luck

• Buying a pair of shoes is considered bad luck amongst some Chinese. The word “shoes” is a homophone for the word for “rough” in Cantonese, or “evil” in Mandarin.
• Washing your hair is also considered to be washing away one’s own luck (although modern hygienic concerns take precedence over this tradition)
• Sweeping the floor is usually forbidden on the first day, as it will sweep away the good fortune and luck for the new year.
• Talking about death is inappropriate for the first few days of Chinese New Year, as it is considered inauspicious as well.
• Buying books is bad luck because the word for “book” is a homonym to the word “lose”.
• Avoid clothes in black and white, as black is a symbol of bad luck, and white is a traditional funeral colour.

Year Of The Rat

Being the first sign of the Chinese zodiacs, rats are leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Rat people are endowed with great leadership skills and are the most highly organized, meticulous, and systematic of the twelve signs. Intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious and strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas, which often include money and power. They are energetic and versatile and can usually find their way around obstacles, and adapt to various environments easily. A rat’s natural charm and sharp demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone, but rats are usually highly exclusive and selective when choosing friends and so often have only a few very close friends whom they trust.

• Positive Traits
  • Meticulous, intelligent, shrewd, compassionate, charismatic, charming, ambitious, practical, industrious, honest, eloquent, versatile, familial, creative, hard-working, neat, organized, lovers of music, loving
• Negative Traits
  • Controlling, obstinate, resentful, lacks-a-sense-of-humor, manipulative, cruel, vengeful, power-driven, critical, possessive, stingy, bossy, fickle, defensive

This Year’s Rat Fortune

Those born in the “Year of the Rat” are clever, ambitious, creative, hard-working, fastidious, charming and sociable, but can be a bit stingy when it comes to sharing their wealth or possessions.

Famous Rat People

Alyssa Milano, Cameron Diaz, Charlotte Bronte, Daryl Hannah, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennie Garth, Kristen Scott Thomas, Lauren Bacall, Lucrezia Borgia, Margaret Mitchell, Margot Kidder, Mata Hari, Nancy Wake, Olivia Newton-John, Sinead Cusack, Stevie Nicks, Toni Collette, and Tracy Pollan.