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After Spring Cleaning, all Chinese & Taoists will be there ready to usher in the Spring aka Lunar New Year.
Just before the ushering in of the New Year, on the Eve, as Chinese or Taoists, we will need to pay respect to Deities & Ancestors. This is a form of respect and also a form of returning Gratitude to them for blessings and looking after.
In the early morning of the Eve, the "Leader" (一家之主) of the family will need to wake up early in-order to prepare for the paying respect to the Deities at home & Ancestors.
After washing up, the "Leader" will need to bring out all the offerings and tie red ribbons or paste some cut-red-paper-patterns onto them. After all preparations are being done, then the offerings can be placed onto the Main Altar.
The "Leader" will then lead the whole family to pay respect to the Main Deities 1st and after the dishes are ready, then the "Leader" will lead the whole family to pay respect to the Ancestors.
Usually on the Eve, the dishes that prepared for the Ancestors will be much more "luxury" and "grand", such as Chicken (雞), Duck (鴨), Goose (鵝), Seafood (海鮮), Abalone (鮑魚), Shark Fin (魚翅), Oranges (桔子), Huat Kueh (發糕), Nian Gao (年糕), Sweets (糖果), Pomelo Fruit (柚子), Longevity Noodles (壽麵), etc etc.
Why so many stuff are being prepared?
Cos while the Mortals enjoyed the Happiness of New Year, they also want the Ancestors in the other Realm to enjoy too, this is the practice of Filial Piety and Big Love of us, the Taoists.
So what is the usual timing for the offering of Ancestors on the Eve?
In the Olden Days, offering of Ancestors will usually take place in the late noon. Some can be as late as 5.00Pm.
Why? In Hokkien, we have a saying of "Li Kau Aum Li Kau Aum (二九晚二九晚)", meaning the later/slower the better, so that, the Ancestors can stay in the home as long as they want and enjoy the offering from the descendants and also the Happy Joyous Atmosphere that created by the family members that gathered around.
After the Offering & Honouring, the dishes will be kept and some of them will be consumed during the Reunion Dinner at the later part of the Evening.
So what must be done before the Reunion Dinner?
Parents or Grandparents will prepare the Red-packets aka Ang Pao (紅包). Those who got married will need to rush home to pay respect to Deities & Ancestors. Those who got nothing to do, will be there to do their own "Entertaining".
During the Reunion Dinner
During the Dinner time, the Elder of the family will need to start first, if not, the younger generation cannot start eating, this is a form of Respect & also Filial Act.
Once after the Elder took any item from the table-top, the younger generation can start to have their meal. During the eating, no other nonsense conversations are allowed, only conversations that make everyone happy and "pleasant" to the ears.
Why?
In-order not to provoke anyone or pick-up-any-fights, try to be more tolerance and "calm" during the eating.
In Chinese, this meal is the most important. Do not spoil the mood of everyone.
For those who are overseas or need to work on the Eve, the parent shall prepare an empty bowl, a pair of chopsticks and a spoon. Place them on the side of the table while everyone is having the meal. This represent that the person who is absent is still living happily in this World. For those who have passed-on, then such practice will not be needed.
What must be consumed during the Reunion Dinner?
Here are a few recommended items that the Chinese must consume:
Fish aka Yu (魚), represent Nian Nian You Yu (年年有余), meaning things will always be there for you. The request that you made will never end and wealth will never stop.
Chicken aka Ji (雞), represent You Ji You Jia (有基有家), meaning having a family, family line wont be disconnected and for those who wish to start a business, the business will definitely be successful.
Lettuce aka Sheng Cai (生菜), represent Nian Nian Sheng Cai (年年生財), meaning wealth keep increasing.
Chinese Leek aka Suan (蒜菜), represent Nian Nian Suan Cai (年年算財), meaning non-stop doing calculation for money.
Spring Onion aka Cong (青蔥), represent Cong Ming Ling Li (聰明伶俐), meaning wisdom & intelligent.
Bean Sprout aka Ru Yi Cai (豆芽如意菜), represent Wan Shi Ru Yi (萬事如意), meaning Prosperity.
Dumpling aka Jiao Zi (餃子), represent Jin Yu Man Tang (金玉滿堂), meaning Fortune & Wealth.
After Reunion Dinner & Ushering in the New Year
After the Dinner, the Elder or the "Leader" of the family will be busy again, cos they have to prepare for the ushering in of the New Year.
This time, another new set of oranges, Nian Gao, Huat Kueh and the 6 types of traditional cookies & 6 types of Vegetarian Items (六甜六素) will be needed.
At about 1145Pm (Singapore Timing), all these items will be placed onto the Main Altar, candles will be lighted and incenses will prepared.
At 1159Pm (Singapore Timing), Incenses will be lighted and once the Clock strike 0000Mn (Singapore Timing), the Elder or the "Leader" of the family will lead the whole family to pay respect to the Deities & Ancestors. During the paying respect, the person leading will have to report to the Deities & Ancestors that a New Year has arrived, sincerely request the Deities & Ancestors for good blessing for the New Year, etc etc.
Once the paying respect is done, the grandparents & parents will give out Ang Pao (in Chinese known as Ya Sui Qian 壓歲錢 – meaning giving good blessing for the Year or that Age) to the younger generation. Remember to say good greetings to the grandparents & parents.
After Ushering in the New Year
For those whose grandparents & parents are still around, this is the timing for you to show your highest cultivation of Filial Piety (孝道).
In our Chinese Custom, the children or the younger generation are not allowed to sleep after the New Year has arrived.
Why?
Cos, this is the day for the children or the younger generation to request for the prolonging-of-Age for the parents.
In Chinese, we called this Shou Sui (守歲) – the later the children go to sleep, the longer Life-span the parents will be blessed with.
And so, if you do not have this type of practice in the past, this year, try it…
Thanks for the post Shifu. Very Informative. I would like to ask about the putting of lucky/auspicious signs and banners on the main door and around the house what would be the best time for this?
ReplyDeleteFor such banners, we called it Dui Lian... usually people will do it after Reunion Dinner or just 15mins before ushering in the New Year.
ReplyDeleteOnce the banners are being changed, it represent a New Year.
Some can do it after Li Chun Day, which is this coming Monday.
Thanks Shifu. How about the firecrackers, should it be lighted before the midnight dinner or after dinner?
ReplyDeleteUsually for firecrackers, before the Dinner, we will light once and then close the main door, this we called it Close Door Auspicious Crackers aka Guan Men Pao (關門炮).
ReplyDeleteAt Zi Hour, after opening the main door, light another round of crackers, we called this as Opening Door Auspicious Crackers aka Kai Men Pao (開門炮).
On the next morning, which is the morning of the 1st day, after opening the main door, we light another round again :P
Okay, We will do this Shifu. What time would be the Guan Men Pao?
ReplyDeleteAnytime before your Reunion Dinner.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very old tradition. Till today, our family is still practicing that. Due to Singapore, we cant light fire-crackers, I will use the mini "bomb" to replace :P
Hehehe. After closing the door that is the time we put the Fu Gui paper right?
ReplyDeleteCan, if not, after opening then put.
ReplyDeleteOk Shifu thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteWelcome :P
ReplyDeletegood reviews.. clear sharp n understand wha is wha... thank bro..happy new year to u
ReplyDeleteShifu may I ask for the names of the 六甜六素?
ReplyDeleteWelcome :P
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you.
Liu Tian 六甜 inclusive of 6 types of flour-made cookies... but for some dialect groups, it can be preserve lotus sees, lotus roots, ginger, orange & winter melon slice.
ReplyDeleteLiu Shu 六素 inclusive of dried black fungus, mushrooms, bean-curd skin, dried straw-rooms, Fa-chai (hair-like plant) & vermicelli
Thank you Shifu...
ReplyDeletewhat is the chinese name for dried straw-rooms?
ReplyDeletedried straw-rooms: 金針菇
ReplyDeleteThank you Shifu.
ReplyDeleteDuring praying as mentioned for CNY, my family uses "Luck Dee Luck Zeh" with some other stuffs. Pure vegeterian.
ReplyDelete"lotus sees, lotus roots, ginger, orange & winter melon slice"
The above mentioned seems to be of the Cantonese practice with those sweet stuffs.
All the preserve items are a traditional candies for the Ancient Era, which later only the Cantonese & Teochew Clans still practice that while us, the Hokkien change to the flour type of cookies.
ReplyDeleteI see.
ReplyDeleteYup :P
ReplyDeleteIn some Ming Dynasty Classics & Records, you are able to see some articles on the traditional preserve candies.
Oh, okay. Things about preserved meat and vegetables are more known as compared to preserved candies. Right?
ReplyDeleteYup, cos preserve meat & vegetable start very early in our Chinese History.
ReplyDeleteEspecially Lunar New Year, without the Culture of preserve items, I dont think there will be any celebrations during the New Year period :P
sifu..may i ask..can i put kam fa(yellow-gold color flower with red ribbon)..on my ancestor's tablet??
ReplyDeleteCan, no problem, this is a traditional Cantonese practice. As long as your family and the other people can accept, this can be done.
ReplyDeleteSome they only put red ribbons.
ReplyDeleteyes..thank u..sifu..my dad lor..he refuse to put..but..i wan put it..he say cannot..but..i feel very grand when putting kam fa...
ReplyDeleteHahahaha, then follow what ur father said la.. do not get into conflict just becos of this issue.. :P
ReplyDeleteFor those who wish to know more on the Practises of Lunar New Year Eve, please do refer to here.
ReplyDelete