It was a night of fireworks. In alleys and on sidewalks additional fires were lit so that you could jump over them to insure good luck. I watched a grandfather and his young granddaughter carefully set a fire, and then she gleefully jumped over it and then stood on the opposite side, urging him on, and he jumped, too, while I stood wondering what good luck was for her and what it meant to him. Luck, the night told me, is always in the eye of the beholder. The purpose of all the fireworks is to chase away demons and to seize luck as the year begins. But their demons might not be my demons and they might actively be chasing away all my good demons, while I may be doing the same to them. Then I realized too that demons are also in the eye of the beholder. Meanwhile, the peaceful war raged in the streets. Smoke hovered above the alleyways, with stuttering flashes of gunpowder light, skyrockets reflected in windows, staccato booms, pops, sounds bursting in a thousand tones, Francis Scott Key’s inspiration in the skies, the bap-bap-bap-bap repeating tones, the expectant silence between barrages, and then, powpowpowpow, it begins all over again: Shrap-rap-rap, shreee, boom, pow, jack-jack-jack-jack . . . swappa-swappa-OWWW-OWWW, whoosh, crack . . .crackcrackcrack, BOOM, boom, BOOM, pause, repeat, then, Kalishnikov—etta-ettta-etta, volcano roars, glacier calving, sky lit up, then, Rice Krispies SNAP-CRACKLE-POP-POP-POP, whoosh, BOOM, repeat, repeat, repeat . . . the roaring aftermath in your head, the red-green popping light in the sky, the rackrackrack of distant revelers refusing to let the night die, the banished demons and spirits shaking like a wet dog, fleeing in droves to leave the night to the rumbles and booms and tears . . . no repair . . . no retreat, the year now totally out of the bag, bulldozer unstoppable, sweeping everyone along as if we were all riding a on a refrigerator sliding downhill, smack-dab into the mouth of the yawning future. It was dizzying, it was memorable, it was China on steroids. I thought I’d collect a few facts about this industrial-strength Chinese holiday for those who want to know more: It is the planet’s longest running annual party, believed to have been first celebrated in the 14th century BC. The three traditions of the Chinese New Year—wearing red clothes, hanging red signs and making lots of noise, were initially used to scare away Nian, a hungry beast that ate livestock and children. A traditional New Year’s greeting is, Guo Nian, which means the ‘Passing of the beast.’ Or, Gong Xi Fa Cai, which means ‘may you be prosperous’, is far more common. The Chinese zodiac has twelve signs. Legend has it that Buddha long ago asked all the animals to help him celebrate the New Year. Twelve came, so he named a year after each one and endowed their years with their unique personalities. (Look up your Chinese zodiac based on your birth year and your inherited personality). Here are the Top ten Chinese New Year traditions: 1. Do not have ghostly conversations. It is inauspicious to talk about death, dying and ghosts. 2. Eat sweets. The eating of sweets is believed to deliver a sweeter year. 3. Open your windows. Feeling the fresh breeze is said to let in good luck 4. Pay your debts. It is believed that starting the New Year in the red, you will end the year in the same way. 5. Avoid hairdressers. Getting your hair cut will cut off your good luck. 6. Don’t clean. First, prepare ahead by giving your house a good cleaning, but cleaning during the holidays will sweep your good luck right out the door. 7. Wear red. While all the colors bring good luck, red is the ultimate bringer of good luck. 8. Avoid rough waters. Buying shoes during the holiday are the equivalent of inviting choppy seas into the New Year as shoes a homonym for rough. 9. No unpleasantries. Anything that happens new year’s day will be indicative of the whole year so avoid swearing at and talking bad about other people. 10. Don’t cry. It is believed that anything that happens on New Year’s Day will be repeated throughout the year.
5 Comments
Mary
3/5/2014 03:18:25 am
Guo Nian - Gong Xi Fa Cai, Elvis English! What a colorful festival. The pictures are spectacular colors everywhere what a celebration. I did not know about all those traditions our resolutions are so different it was interesting to read about China's. Thank you always for such informative writing as always a pleasure to read. Your posts always make my day!
Reply
Looks awesome
3/5/2014 07:40:57 am
Reply
Ggg
3/5/2014 07:42:02 am
Gdccv
Reply
Suty..
3/5/2014 10:39:42 am
on my cell only saw 4 blank spaces without instructions ... too good the fireworks, look like ours for the new year lol. greetings and hugs elvisenglish.
Reply
Erika MarĂa
3/7/2014 02:01:27 pm
You Elvis English can make any subject interesting. I´ll keep reading what night keeps wispering you & will keep eating delicious sweets along 2014 - Terrrible!!! " Made the best out of what life offered "
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
|