Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Fides Service) – For the Chinese, Lunar New Year of Spring festival is the most important holiday of the year. The new year is calculated according to the moon, hence its name Lunar. It is a sign that Winter rest for farmers is over and it is time to start preparing fields for sowing. In cities people have three days off work but in the countryside festivities last ten days to two weeks.
Traditionally New Year is a time when people return to their ancestral homes to be with the family. Trains and buses are crowded with people making their way home. Since the festivity marks the beginning of Spring, it is a time to make all things new, to make a fresh start for the new year: debts and bills are paid. It brings bad luck to leave any old bills unpaid.
The days leading up to New Year’s day are a time for spring cleaning. Everything must be bright and shining by New Year’s day and then the brooms are put away: no one sweeps on New Year’s day because you might sweep away good fortune. No one cooks on New Year’s day either: food, always plentiful, is cooked beforehand. As the day approaches children cut out figures in red paper to decorate at window and doors and bring good luck.
The first thing to do on New Year’ s day is to remember the ancestors, bow to the head of the family and the older members of the family. Then it is time to visit friends and relations. Children receive gifts especially the Hongbao, a red bag with a little money, after which everyone sits down to the family banquet.
For Chinese people overseas, Chun Jie is a time for the Chinese community to establish closer ties with the hosting society.
The Catholic Church in China highlights the religious aspect of the new year festivities. It is a time for living brotherhood and sharing with the poor and evangelisation. On the occasion of the festivities Catholic parishes in Beijing organise initiatives of solidarity to help children and families in need, and sick, and they collect funds to help lepers.
(ZN) (Fides Service 20/01/2004 Lines: 34 Words: 375)
