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| money container, lotus candle, insense burner and offerings for the Gods |
Chinese New Year or Spring Festival falls on February 19th this year. It is a Buddhist festival that is celebrated throughout Asia and becoming popularized globally. This will be the 4712th Chinese New Year to be celebrated throughout history. This holiday was standardized during the Han Dynasty (206 - 200 BC) but is believed to have started centuries before that, perhaps as far back as Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun in 2300 BC.
Chinese astrology deems 2015 the year of the Green Wood Sheep (or Goat depending on who you talk
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| Lucky purple primroses and a symbolic dragons |
to). There are twelve animals in this zodiac kingdom and they are rotated to a new animal each year. The "Green" "Wood" portion is in reference to a reasonably complicated stem/ branch system. In this system there are 10 stems and 12 branches that combine into a cycle of 60 counting systems. So what does it mean? The characteristics of the zodiac totem suggest the qualities of the upcoming year. Sheep are amiable, gentle, creative and kindhearted creatures which suggest 2015 will be a year of peacefulness and harmony. Wood is associated with Spring, renewal and the colour green. This year proposes that the renewal and evergreen qualities of the tree will combine with the sheep to unleash creativity and to create a calm and steady path to follow. Sounds good to me!
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| Plum Blossoms for courage and pussy willows |
Traditionally, the week preceding Chinese New Year is a time to cleanse ill fortune from your home. Cleaning and sweeping the home, paying off debts, buying new clothes and cutting your hair are chores to be accomplished before the first day of the year. Vibrant scarlet firecrackers and paper cut outs and couplets adorn windows and doors communicating popular messages like "Good Fortune", "Happiness" and "Long Life". Firecrackers deter bad spirits (like the mythical beast Nian) who, according to Folklore, was scared of the colour red and loud noises. The day proceeding the Chinese New Year is the official start of celebrations. At midnight, the firecrackers are lit along with burning bamboo. The dust pan is put away to avoid sweeping away good luck that will be entering the home. Food and gifts are placed outside the door as an offering (or a bribe) to the deities to report good things about the family to the Gods. Red envelopes containing money and traditional treats are given to friends, family members, business contacts and employees. Oranges and tangerines in the home and office are associated with happiness and prosperity. While fresh blooms represent new growth after a long Winter. Plum blossoms and narcissus are the most popular in China. Plum blossoms representing courage while the Narcissus symbolizes good luck and fortune. Each year also denotes lucky numbers, colours and plants that will bring good luck in the upcoming year. 2015 indicates 2 and 7 as lucky numbers. Red, purple and brown will bring blessing and carnations and primroses are the flowers of choice.
I was lucky enough to be asked to decorate the front entrance. After a few trips to Daiso and Chinatown, I think I was able to create a festive New Years display. Thanks for your help Melissa and Nick!
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| Red lanterns and "Firecrackers" to ward off bad spirits |
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| God of Money |
