The Spring Feast Day terminology is also used sometimes to
distinguish the Chinese New Year from the occidental New Year, as the Chinese people
adopted the occidental calendar in 1912.
In Chinese, the first day of the Lunar New Year is called 'Yuan Dan' from 'Yuan'
meaning 'beginning' and 'Dan' which means 'sunrise'.
How to set the date?
The Chinese calendar is based on the lunar calendar. The Chinese New Year starts the first
day after the Capricorn period. That is to say during the Aquarius period (20 Jan-18 Fev).
It appears that from other sources, the calculation of the date for the Chinese New Year
period is based on the beginning of the second new moon: between winter solstice and
spring equinox, i.e. end of January to the third week of February.
New Year and Astrology
Each year bear the name of one of the twelve signs from the Chinese Astrology. The legend
says that during a New Year night, the Jade Emperor invited the animals from the earth to
join him. Only twelve animals came and visited him: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit (or cat),
dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, cock, dog, pig. Buddha did set up a symbolic year, a
kind of tribute to each visitor. He decreed as well that any new born would have the
characteristic of the animals corresponding to the year of birth.
Activities
For
the New Year's Eve, there is generally an ancestor remembrance ceremony. The whole family
gather to celebrate ancestors and to place their offerings in the ancestor altar: fruits
(mainly oranges) and the 'four offerings', i.e. New Year cakes of glutinous rice, alcohol,
meat and tea. Each member of the family burns incense and bow to the altar making a wish.
It is said that the ancestor spirit will help them during the year. This ceremony is of
first importance, because it is the real good start of the year. After greeting the
ancestor the party can start. Some people go and pray at the temple at New Year's Eve or
at New Year's Day. People will burn incense and bow to ancestors to express their
gratitude.
The Lunar New Year is a slow pace period for business. It's a bit like the summer holidays
in the West. People don't work a lot and one tries to get on well with everybody.
There is a happy atmosphere as well as a noisy one. Indeed, people let off bangers to
repel the evil spirits. The Lion and Dragon dance has an exorcism effect as well and is
typical at New Year. These two animals can repel the Evil and can bring prosperity to
human beings.
Season's
Greetings
Children come to grandparents to wish them all the best for the New Year. In return, they
get a red envelope containing money. This greeting tradition is current as well between
sister & brother, auntie/uncle & niece/nephew. The red envelope is a symbol of
luck and prosperity for the next year. Wishes are generally extended to friends. If they
have children, they'll get a red envelope.
The Chinese New Year is the prefect occasion to get well dressed with traditional outfits
for example. In Vietnam, women wear the most beautiful dress called a 'Ao Dai'.
Gambling is kind of tolerated by police during that period.
Chinese Feast
The living room should be well lit since light allows the Good to come in. The main
colours should be red (joy) and yellow or gold (light). Houses are decorated with red
lanterns, and with yellow flower branches (Forsythia like) in order to repel the Evil.
Meals served at New Year are different from a country to another. In Vietnam, the
traditional meal is a cake made of glutinous rice and stuffed with meat (generally pork)
and beans. Candied fruits and pickled vegetable are eaten as well. Chinese meals will be a
selection of vegetarian products, seafood, or Pork, duck and beef.
The Chinese New Year and the
Cinema
That period is quite important for the film
industry. The lunar New Year films are usually made for the whole family. There are two
main categories of movie. The first one is big-budgeted action movies. This type of movie
is generally impressive but not violent and should seduce adults and kids. Jackie Chan was
mastering for a while this kind of flick. The second category is comedies. They are made
especially for a Chinese New Year release. In the last scene, cast and crew usually gather
to wish everybody a happy New Year.
It seems that the rule in HK is that every single director has to make at least one
Chinese New Year movie in his career. John Woo (Once A Thief), Tsui Hark (Chinese
Feast), Johnnie To (Eight Happiness) had to direct such movies. Since the
mid nineties crisis, Kings of the box office at this period, Jackie Chan and Stephen Chow
are less and less present for the Chinese New Year rendez-vous. Actionners and comedies
are still however very popular at this period when the whole family goes to theatres. In
2000, Tokyo Raiders and The Duel were the great winners of the Lunar New
Year holidays.
In 2001, Jackie Chan came back with big-budgeted actionner Accidental Spy, and
Johnnie To proposed a period comedy, Wu Yen, with two of the most popular
actresses of the moment: Cecilia Cheung and Sammi Cheng.
The Spring Feast Day terminology is also used sometimes to
distinguish the Chinese New Year from the occidental New Year, as the Chinese people
adopted the occidental calendar in 1912.
Another romantic comedy is
expected to be acclaimed by the audience: Marry a Rich Man with Sammi Cheng and
Richie Ren. And Finally Johnnie To and Wai Kar Fai have spent some time to shoot The
Fat Choi Spirit a comedy set in the world of Mahjong with Andy Lau, Gigi Leung, Louis
Koo and Lau Chin Wan.