8 Myths Regarding Chinese New Year Celebrations That Chinese Ethnicians Still Believe

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JAKARTA - Since 2003, Chinese New Year has become a national holiday. However, this celebration was not only celebrated by Chinese citizens, but also various levels of Indonesian people.

The Chinese New Year apparently has a myth that is still believed today by Chinese people. This belief has been kept and preserved for hundreds of years. So, what are the myths surrounding Chinese New Year celebrations that are still believed by the Chinese?

Angpao

The tradition of giving angpao is related to energy and well-being transfer. If you have a family, you are obliged to provide sustenance for your parents and children. Meanwhile, if you are not married but capable enough, then you are obliged to share sustenance with those who cannot.

Liong Naga and Lion Dance

Do you often see the lion dance during Chinese New Year celebrations? If so, Liong Naga and Barongsai are mandatory traditions during Chinese New Year. In Chinese belief, Liong and Barongsai are symbols of happiness and pleasure. This lion and dragon dance performance is believed to bring hockey.

Serves special meals

During Chinese New Year, Chinese citizens must serve 12 types of dishes and 12 types of cakes as symbols of the 12 kinds of zodiac signs. The whole dish is prayed together with the family. Each food has its own meaning.

Siu mie symbolizes longevity and prosperity, lapis legit symbolizes multiple layers of sustenance, fish as a symbol of water, and also ducks or chickens as a symbol of air.

Cleaning the house before Chinese New Year

Cleaning the house is indeed every day mandatory, not only when the Chinese New Year celebration comes. However, when approaching the Chinese New Year celebration, it is very important to ensure that the condition of the house is clean. It means that the house is clean from evil, ready to receive good luck in the new year.

Redecorate the house

After cleaning, the house should be decorated with red knick-knacks. Doors and windows are repainted and plastered with paper bearing quotes or words of kindness. For Chinese people, red symbolizes prosperity, strength, and good luck.

New clothes and shoes

Buying clothes, shoes, and shaving hair is a tradition approaching the Chinese New Year. These clothes are usually red or some other light color. Chinese people believe that their new appearance is a symbol of optimism for the future.

Pay off or reduce debt

The debt must be paid. However, for Chinese citizens paying debts also has its own meaning. Approaching the new year, Chinese citizens must pay or reduce the amount of debt in the hope that the following year will not be burdened with debt any more.

Abstain from eating porridge

During Chinese New Year celebrations, Chinese citizens are prohibited from serving and eating porridge. Porridge is considered a symbol of poverty. Another prohibition related to food at Chinese New Year celebrations is flipping fish.

So, if you want to take the meat on the other side of the fish, your position must be maintained. The fish also should not be eaten up totally, but rather be left for the next day's meal. This represents the surplus value for the following year.

Abstinence from sweeping during Chinese New Year

On the Chinese New Year, Chinese citizens are prohibited from sweeping and mopping the floor of the house. Because this is believed to be able to eliminate all the blessings of the New Year at home.