CNY tradition and Modernity
Tradition: Do not sweep the floor on the first five days of CNY as it will sweep all the good luck away.
Modernity: You should sweep the floor to get rid the dirt of the house – which is the real bad luck.
Tradition: Place the “fu” sign upside-down as it sounds like prosperity has dao (arrived).
Modernity: You should place the “fu” sign the right side up as it would be placed zheng (upright) and all the people staying in the house will be upright people.
Tradition: Children will always stay up in the eve for their parents to wish them longevity.
Modernity: Children should sleep early on the eve as adding more age to their parents means that they’ll have to support more financially as they are on this planet longer.
Tradition: If something is broken during CNY, one must say something lucky like “luo di kai hua” or “sui sui ping an”.
Modernity: Unless you want your house to become a garden, or get more bad luck (sui sui sounds like sway sway in Teochew), go ahead. Otherwise, sweep the debris away.
Tradition: You should wear clothes with red during CNY.
Modernity: I won’t want to keep seeing red (English idiom, meaning to get angry) during CNY. Instead, black symbolizes high class and should be considered.
Tradition: It is unlucky to quarrel or scold anyone during CNY.
Modernity: Quarreling and scolding anyone is okay as long as you get your way and the child doesn’t misbehave after that.
Tradition: You should pay all your debt before CNY as you would be owing money continuously throughout the year.
Modernity: It actually makes more sense to pay debts after CNY as the extra income from the ang pows can help to pay off the debts.
Tradition: It is lucky to put the very first joss stick in certain Chinese temples.
Modernity: You should avoid this tradition as you risk immediate death from a stampede.
Tradition: It is unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom and even the sick should get up and sit in the living room to greet guests.
Modernity: It is lucky to greet anyone in their bedroom as it symbolizes good relations between the host and the guest (a person not on good terms with someone else is unlikely to let him or her enter his room).
Tradition: Washing the hair on day 1 of CNY means that one would wash away all the good luck for the New Year.
Modernity: Not washing the hair could lead to dandruff or hair lice. One might miss a potential business opportunity as the hair stinks.
Modernity: You should sweep the floor to get rid the dirt of the house – which is the real bad luck.
Tradition: Place the “fu” sign upside-down as it sounds like prosperity has dao (arrived).
Modernity: You should place the “fu” sign the right side up as it would be placed zheng (upright) and all the people staying in the house will be upright people.
Tradition: Children will always stay up in the eve for their parents to wish them longevity.
Modernity: Children should sleep early on the eve as adding more age to their parents means that they’ll have to support more financially as they are on this planet longer.
Tradition: If something is broken during CNY, one must say something lucky like “luo di kai hua” or “sui sui ping an”.
Modernity: Unless you want your house to become a garden, or get more bad luck (sui sui sounds like sway sway in Teochew), go ahead. Otherwise, sweep the debris away.
Tradition: You should wear clothes with red during CNY.
Modernity: I won’t want to keep seeing red (English idiom, meaning to get angry) during CNY. Instead, black symbolizes high class and should be considered.
Tradition: It is unlucky to quarrel or scold anyone during CNY.
Modernity: Quarreling and scolding anyone is okay as long as you get your way and the child doesn’t misbehave after that.
Tradition: You should pay all your debt before CNY as you would be owing money continuously throughout the year.
Modernity: It actually makes more sense to pay debts after CNY as the extra income from the ang pows can help to pay off the debts.
Tradition: It is lucky to put the very first joss stick in certain Chinese temples.
Modernity: You should avoid this tradition as you risk immediate death from a stampede.
Tradition: It is unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom and even the sick should get up and sit in the living room to greet guests.
Modernity: It is lucky to greet anyone in their bedroom as it symbolizes good relations between the host and the guest (a person not on good terms with someone else is unlikely to let him or her enter his room).
Tradition: Washing the hair on day 1 of CNY means that one would wash away all the good luck for the New Year.
Modernity: Not washing the hair could lead to dandruff or hair lice. One might miss a potential business opportunity as the hair stinks.
posted by mummyesther at 2:28 pm
2 Comments:
Interesting way of justifying the tradition... but, I wouldn't do against those traditions... it would be really unlucky to start a year by being scolded.
S.C
wooowowowooo!
Great to hear from u!!!
What a pleasant surprise!
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