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everything that is sent. The messenger must be rewarded with “Ang Pao” by the recipient. The banquet takes places on the vigil, every housewife will prepare and
make ready the food for several days. At the least day before the New Year, the all generations will reunion to their parents ‘home for dinner although they have
their own family and daughters who have married should return to their parents in law’s home for having dinner.
For some people, the New Year it self is being observed as a fast day on which no meat is eaten, theoretically, only vegetables and beancurd in oli, and no
lard, should appear on the table. In sending food present vegetables dishes are included with this observance. For some families who are not as strict as others in
the absention from meat and including it in the evening meal, but breakfast, the fist meal of the year is usually vegetables.
After dinner, attended by all generation, the children bow to their parents who will give them “Ang Pao”. On the last day of the year, there is a general
clean up all around, in the shape of bath and hairdressing. No one goes to bed on the night of the 30
th
of twelfth moon, but all sit up to welcome in the New Year. After twelfth o’clock on the last day of the year, most of the them will
worship at the temple for begging the safety and lucky. The others will go there the next morning.
2.4 Chinese New Year
The First day in Imlek New Year is a sacred it is regarded as a family reunion. All members who are with it reach every endeavor to attend, unless
positively bedridden. All quarrels are supposed to be forgotten. It is also an
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occasion for general reconcilia. Friends and relation in ceremonial garments greet each other by saying “Gong Xi Fat Chai” For the parents who have not given the
“Ang Pao” to their children in the New Year night, they can give it on tomorrow morning. Ang Pao is the money which enclosed in a special red envelope.
The first day is for the welcoming of the deities of the heavens and earth, officially beginning at midnight. It is a traditional practice to light fireworks, burn
bamboo sticks and firecrackers and to make as much of a din as possible to chase off the evil spirits as encapsulated by Nian of which the term guo nian was
derived. Many people, especially Buddhists,
abstain from meat consumption on the first day because it is believed that this will ensure
longevity for them. Some
consider lighting fires and using knives to be bad luck on New Years Day, so all food to be consumed is cooked the days before. On this day, it is considered bad
luck to use the broom. Most importantly, the first day of Chinese New Year is a time to honor ones elders and families visit the oldest and most senior members
of their extended families, usually their parents, grandparents and great- grandparents. For Buddhists, the first day is also the birthday of
Maitreya Bodhisattva
better known as the more familiar Budai Luohan
, the Buddha-to- be. People also abstain from killing animals. Some families may invite
a Barongsay
troupe as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Chinese New Year as well as to evict bad spirits from the premises. Members of the family who are married
also give red envelopes
containing cash known as lai see or Ang Pao, a form of blessings and to suppress the aging and challenges associated with the coming
year, to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers. Business
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managers also give bonuses through red packets to employees for good luck, smooth-sailing, good health and wealth.
Red envelopes or
Ang Pao are passed out during the Chinese New Years celebrations, from married couples or the elderly to unmarried juniors. It is also
common for adults or young couples to give red packets to children. The red covers are stocked in quantities by every prudent housewife. Ang Pao almost
always contain money, usually varying from a couple of dollars to several hundred. Per custom, the amount of money in the red packets should be of even
numbers, as odd numbers are associated with cash given during funerals. The number 8 is considered lucky for its homophone for wealth,
The number six is also very lucky as it sounds like smooth, in the sense of having a smooth year.
Sometimes chocolate coins are found in Ang Pao. Odd and even numbers are determined by the first digit, rather than the last. Thirty and fifty, for example, are
odd numbers, and are thus appropriate as funeral cash gifts. A married person
would not turn down such a request as it would mean that he or she would be out of luck in the new year. Ang Pao are generally given by established married
couples to the younger non-married children of the family. It is custom and polite for children to wish elders a happy new year and a year of happiness, health and
good fortune before accepting Ang Pao. Ang Pao are then kept under the pillow and slept on for seven days after Chinese New Year before opening because it
symbolizes good luck and fortune when you sleep on the red envelopes for seven nights. In addition to Ang Pao, which are usually given from elder to younger,
small gifts usually of food or sweets are also exchanged between friends or
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relatives of different households during Chinese New Year. Gifts are usually brought when visiting friends or relatives at their homes. Common gifts include
fruits typically oranges, and never pears, cakes, biscuits, chocolates, candies, or some other small gifts For persons who have not married should not give the
lucky money to anybody except money only. They also must not saying dirty words or be angered by anyone. The
reasons why must do not these things will be discussed in Chapter Three.
2.5 After Imlek New Year
