GONG XI FA CAI!

Over the past 2 weeks, spring cleaning my flat was my top agenda item as Chinese New Year is approaching. It is imperative to have a spotless house especially in the kitchen, as the Kitchen God returns to Heaven to make his report on humans to the Jade Emperor. Thus many Chinese households have to ensure its cleanliness to ensure that the Jade Emperor will bestow good fortune and luck upon them for the coming year. It is also believed that cleaning sweeps away the bad luck and makes way for good luck to arrive. All brooms and other cleaning utensils are then put away as not to sweep away the good luck on the first day.

This year is the Year of the Goat or Sheep, and falls on 19th February 2015. There are 12 zodiac animals - Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig, and 5 elements Earth, Wind, Metal, Fire and Water. Each element with an animal occurs once in 60 years, and this forms the basis for the person born in the year’s character.

I can remember my mother buying us new clothes before every Chinese New Year, and they had to be red as it the colour of good luck, and wards off evil spirits. It was important to be dressed from head to toe in new clothes as it symbolises the beginning of a new year. She also used to insist that we got our hair cut and chooses an auspicious day for us all to visit the hairdressers. On New Year’s Eve, we would gather with all our relatives for a reunion dinner, lighting firecrackers to usher in the Year, and ask for forgiveness from our elders for all the wrong doings or for being naughty the past year.

Our house would be filled with lots of different types of cookies, prawn crackers, oranges, tangerines and lots of scrumptious cooked food, ready to be served to our guests on New Year’s Day.

The giving of ‘red envelopes’ which contain money from our elders and married relatives makes it a very ‘profitable’ time for the children. It is customary and polite for children to wish elders a happy new year and a year of happiness, health and good fortune before accepting the red envelope. When we visited other relatives or friends, we would also take a packet of oranges/tangerine to their house as both words mean wealth and

luck. We would also wish them 'Xin Nian Kuai Le', Happy New Year in Mandarin, or "San Nin Faai Lok" in Cantonese.

Our New Year celebrations last for 15 days, and the Chinese Community in London will be celebrating by having festivities in 
Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and Shaftesbury Avenue.

Highlights on the event include a lively parade and a main stage in Trafalgar Square on 22nd February from 10am until 6pm. The day kicks off with the parade from Duncannon Street to Shaftesbury Avenue with floats, Chinese lion and dragon teams and more. Performances from local artists and traditional food and craft stalls can be found in various locations throughout the day. Follow these web-links below for more activities throughout the celebrations. Join in to celebrate and have a great weekend out.

GONG XI FA CAI- HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/chinese-new-year-in-london
http://www.chinatownlondon.org





To find out your animal year check the table below with the year of your birth.
 
Rat: 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960
Ox: 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961
Tiger: 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962
Rabbit: 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963
Dragon: 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964
Snake: 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965
Horse: 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966
Goat: 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967
Monkey: 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968
Rooster: 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969
Dog: 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970
Pig: 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971


Written by Irene Kuan. Irene is Director of Finance at FOCUS.

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