Thursday 18 December 2014

甲午馬年冬至日 Winter Solstice for Year 2014




甲午馬年冬至日  Winter Solstice for Year 2014

Time flies and Time passes, its again the end period of a Lunar Year and so, All Taoists and Chinese will be preparing to celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival aka Dong Zhi Day.

 For Year 2014, Dong Zhi Day aka Winter Solstice falls on 22 Dec, a Monday, starting time at 07:50 Hours  (甲午馬年農曆十一月初一日辰時三刻始).

So what is Winter Solstice?

 According to Scientific Explanation, Winter Solstice is a Day of the starting of the change of the Weather and also the Sun-shining duration for both the North & South Hemisphere (南北半球).

And so, from this Day onwards, the Sun-shine Duration for the North Hemisphere will be shorter and vice-versa for the South Hemisphere.

 And this is why, in one of our Old Hokkien Saying, for those Lazy Ladies who are not able to wake up early in the Morning, she wont be able to finish her chores in A Day.

 So what Winter Solstice means in Chinese Custom?

 In Chinese Custom, Winter Solstice Festival will be the Day for the Chinese to celebrate their Harvesting of the Year and also to have a Reunion Gathering with the Family Members.

 Besides that, Taoists and Chinese will have to pay respect to Deities & Ancestors, returning the Gratitude to them for the necessary Blessings for the Year.

 In Taoist Records, this is a Day that Taoists will visit Temples to pay respect to Deities in-order to request for Blessings and also, the eliminating of debts and sins. In some Big Taoist Temples, Priests will conduct Rituals/Ceremonies for Taoists and other Followers to participate in.

 So what are the Traditional Items that are associated with Winter Solstice Festival?

 In Ancient Era, the Chinese will prepared Buns, Pastry, etc, to celebrate whereas in Summer Period, Chinese will prepare Noodles for the Celebration.

 After a certain period, Chinese changed they habit of eating Buns & Pastry to eating of Sweet Dumplings aka Tang Yuan (湯圓).

Tang Yuan, shape in Round or Ball, represent Reunion, Happiness and Full. This does not only represent Reunion for the Family but also, represent having a Nice Round-off for the Years’ Harvesting.

 Till today, the Chinese still practice the consuming of Tang Yuan to get the Blessing of Reunion and Happiness.

 So how and what to prepare for the Honouring of Deities and Ancestors?

 For those who have Altars, dedicating to Deities and Ancestors, at home, remember to wake up early in the Morning to prepare the Tang Yuan aka Ee.

 Nowadays, due to busy working life of the Modern Adults, Tang Yuan can be brought from Supermarket in Ready-made packing. Oneself just need to get a little bundle of Pandan Leaves and a pack of Red/Brown sugar and the cooking of Tang Yuan will be able to take place.

 After the cooking is ready, scoop the Tang Yuan into 3 Bowls for offering to the Deities and at least 2 Bowls for the Ancestors (1 bowl for Male Ancestors and other for Female Ancestors).

 Remember to prepare some Paper Offerings such as Tian Gong Jin (天公金) and Shou Jin (壽金) for Deities, Gold & Silver Papers (金銀紙) for Ancestors.

 Wait for about 15 minutes; send off the Paper Offerings for the Deities and after 3 rounds of Offering Incenses to Ancestors, the Gold & Silver Papers can be sent off.

 Usually after the Offering, the Tang Yuan can be retrieved back and distributed out to the Family Members for eating. Do not throw them away, cos All consuming items on Dong Zhi Day cannot be waste.

 In order not to left the Altar empty, after retrieving the Tang Yuan from the Altar, oneself can prepared a set of Five Oranges to replace the Tang Yuan.

 Dong Zhi Da Guo Nian (冬至大過年)

In Chinese, we have a Saying of Dong Zhi Da Guo Nian (冬至大過年), meaning that, Dong Zhi Day is a Day that worth Celebrating and this Celebrating must be as Grand as the Celebration of Lunar New Year.

 Why is there such a practice?

 According to Chinese Belief, Winter Solstice is a Day of Changes not only in the Weather and Sun-shining Duration, but also the Luck and the Natural Element in the 3 Realms.

 During these Changes, certain Elements in one’s Spiritual & Physical Body will also be changed. For those who encountered Negative Issues in the Year, after this Day, the Negative Issues will be eliminated and by doing Requesting of Blessings, hoping that the following Days of the Year will be Blessed with Good Luck.

 And this is why, on this Day, Taoists and Chinese will have to prepare for a Grand Celebration, such as wearing new Clothing, consuming of Good Items, visit Temples, etc, to gain the Happiness and Good Blessing from the Deities and Big Dao.

Other Information 其他相關資訊﹕

Offering Tang Yuan to Deities on Dong Zhi (冬至敬湯圓)


Hokkien Song on Dong Zhi aka Winter Solstice (閩南語賀年金曲-冬節)


Hokkien Theme  Song on Dong Zhi aka Winter Solstice Dumpling (閩南語金曲-冬至圓)



Friday 12 December 2014

甲午馬年臨水宮丹霞大聖誕辰吉慶 Manifestation Anniversary of Monkey Sage Dan Xia of Lin Shui Palace 2014


甲午馬年臨水宮丹霞大聖誕辰吉慶 
Manifestation Anniversary of Monkey Sage Dan Xia of Lin Shui Palace 2014

農曆十月廿五日為臨水宮丹霞大聖誕辰吉慶。

25th Day of Lunar 10 Month is known as the Manifestation Anniversary of the Monkey Sage Dan Xia of Lin Shui Palace.

For Year 2014, it falls on 16 Dec, a Tuesday.

More info on Monkey Sage Dan Xia of Lin Shui Palace (臨水宮丹霞大聖相關資料):

福州臨水宮三大聖 The Three Monkey Sages of Lin Shui Palace

http://javewutaoismplace.blogspot.sg/2014/01/three-monkey-sages-of-lin-shui-palace.html


臨水宮丹霞大聖寶誥(之二) Monkey Sage Dan Xia Praising Incantation 02

http://javewutaoismplace.blogspot.sg/2014/01/monkey-sage-dan-xia-praising.html

Monday 8 December 2014

甲午馬年林則徐公回天紀念日 Immortality Anniversary of Official Lin Ze Xu 2014


甲午馬年林則徐公回天紀念日
Immortality Anniversary of Official Lin Ze Xu 2014

林則徐﹐字元撫又稱少穆或石麟﹐祖籍中國福建省福州市侯官鎮。

林則徐生于乾隆五十年農曆七月廿六日﹐回天於咸豐元年農曆十月十九日辰時﹐享壽六十六。

一生在朝為抵抗外來惡勢力﹐最終在銷煙行動因過勞而累積病痛﹐在退休回鄉後﹐病痛發作而與世長辭。

在林則徐回天後﹐民間為紀念這位偉大護國英雄﹐而賜其號為” 護國保命正華真人”。

26th Day of Lunar 7 Month is the Birthday Anniversary of Official Lin Ze Xu, whereas 19th Day of Lunar 10 Month is known as the Gaining of Immortality of him.

Official Lin Ze Xu was the one, whom had tried his very best to destroy the Opium-disaster in late Qing Dynasty.

For Year 2014, the Immortality Anniversary falls on 10 Dec, a Tuesday.

相關照片及資料  Pictures & Related Info;

http://javewutaoismplace.blogspot.sg/2013/11/immortality-anniversary-of-official-lin.html