Happy New Year and/or Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!
Yep, it is once again that time of year again, Lunar New Year. This is the reason why I have been gone all week. I didn't even have time to breathe with all the cleaning and preparations before the New Year. As of midnight last night, Lunar New Year has begun; it will last for the next three days.
The countdown started one week before New Years. Every room, every corner, every wall of the house had to be spotlessly cleaned. Sweeping, dusting, wiping, mopping, reorganizing was what I did all week, believe it or not. During the three days of New Year, we are forbid to clean and sweep during the New Year, thus everything has to be done before hand. It is said that if you sweep during the New Year, you are sweeping away your luck. If you clean during New Year, you will be cleaning all year round. Every trashcans in the house needed to be emptied before midnight last night, we are not to take the trash out of the house for the next three days because if you take out the trash, you are throwing away your luck. All laundry had to be finished before New years as well, reason being that's all you'll do year round.
For three days, we will have to refrain from yelling, screaming, tears or being mad at each other. Only laughter is aloud. No loud noises or ruckus are to be made. No drilling or fixing the house. No shedding blood. All debts are to be paid ahead of time. The list goes on... Pretty much, it is believed that whatever happens during these three days will effect the year. If you shed blood, accidents could occur, if you fix the house, you'll have to do that all year. That is why all the cleaning had to be done before so during the three days, we only eat, sleep and enjoy ourselves.
While I cleaned and reorganized the house, my Mom was busy in the kitchen preparing food. There's certain food that you only eat during New Year, banh tet, banh chung and banh day to name a few. The altars were cleaned and plates of fruits were displayed for offerings. According to my family traditions, the first of three days, we are not to eat meat. So a vegetarian course was also prepared.
The best part of the New Years are the red envelopes or lì xi. Children would wish their elders good wishes and in return, would receive a red envelope with money inside. The usually wishes include, good health, great fortune, prosperity and good luck. All is fun during the New Years, but there is always the pressure if you're the first guest at someone's house. If their year turns out great, with much luck and great fortune, you're fine. However, if their year was full of misfortunes, you'll be blamed for bringing that bad luck to their house.
I am not claiming that everything from above is true, the only or right way. This is pure tradition and superstitions that's been passed down from generation to generation. Some things might be added or taken out from family to family. This is what I've learned from my Mom and Grandma. The tradition only continues from here.
Lunar New Year is the broad name of this celebration. Like the name suggests, Lunar New Year is based on the lunar calendar. It differs every year, and generally falls between January and February. This year, it happens to fall on January 31st. Most countries from Asia have adopted the celebration of Lunar New Year, in Korea it is called Seollal, Tết in Vietnam, or most famously known as Chinese New Years or Spring Festival.
You probably heard of the Chinese Zodiacs: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit (Vietnam uses Cat instead), Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. The lunar calendar also uses the zodiacs for their years, meaning it will take 12 years to repeat itself. Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water are the five elements that go alongside the zodiac signs. For example, 2014 is not just the year of the horse, it is the year of the Wood Horse. To further complicate things, every year, yin and yang alternates with the five elements. Between the 12 signs, five elements and yin, yang alternating, it will take 60 years to repeat the same exact year again. My Grandma and I are both Yin Earth Snake, she was born in 1929 and me 1989 making us 60 years apart. To sum it all up, according to the lunar calendar, 2014 is the year of the Yang Wood Horse.
To all of my readers, I wish you great health, good fortune, and the best of luck for this up coming Year of the Horse. Let's concur this! Thanks for reading guys. :)
Here is my super sad attempt of a hoa mai nail art. Please excuse my dry cuticles and skin. It was a harsh week.
What hoa mai is supposed to look like....
- Hoa Mai
