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A wish of luck for the Chinese New Year
By AMANDA LAGO, GMA News
It’s safe to say that in the Philippines, there isn’t another holiday quite as colorful, raucous, and shrouded in myth and mysticism as the Chinese New Year. Also called the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, it’s a celebration where practices and traditions are centered on the most elusive of things: good luck.
From the food, to the performances, to the clothes, down to the ornaments that people buy, everything about this special day is chosen or done specifically for their supposed ability to attract good fortune and drive away evil.
Food-wise, there is the ubiquitous tikoy, which is said to bring prosperity — its more common name, nian gao, means “higher year.” Aside from being fried up and eaten though, this sticky treat is also offered to the Kitchen God in the hopes that its stickiness will seal the mouth of the said deity to prevent him from giving a bad report on the offering family when he goes back to heaven.
Other dishes are also believed to bring in the good vibes. There is the rather exotic abalone, which is said to attract money, and the more familiar Peking duck and hakao, which are said to drive away sickness.
When eaten all together, these dishes promise a year filled with good luck: “Some of the food, after eating is good luck. For the Chinese, they understand and they know already. My mother, my family like this cooking,” shared Chinese chef Peter Yeung on GMA News’ “24 Oras.”
As for the traditional Spring Festival entertainment, it’s more about keeping the bad out than bringing the good in.
Everyone knows that firecrackers and other noisemakers are meant to scare the bad spirits away, but what isn’t as widely known is the fact that the colorful dragon and lion dances that are never absent this time of year are also believed to have the same power to keep evil at bay.
Another “24 Oras” report covered this year’s Chinese New Year celebration at Fort Santiago, where a lion and dragon dance was performed by members of the volunteer fire brigade. During the celebration, Friends of Intramuros President John Go Hoc explained, “the lion is supposed to be very fierce animal, so the evil spirit [is] afraid of the lion. They chase all the evil spirit away, also the dragon.”
Naturally, the streets during this time become an explosion of China’s favorite color, red. The vibrant hue may now be associated with China’s Communist party but before and beyond that, the color also symbolizes happiness, energy, and yes, prosperity, which is why the Chinese wear red to every joyful occasion: weddings, birthdays, and obviously, Chinese New Year.
Of course, never absent in the Chinese New Year celebrations is the ancient practice of feng shui. Even some of the most doubting skeptics bend their stringent beliefs this time of year when something as simple as buying a lucky charm promises to bring good fortune.
Apparently, this year, the rhino and holo charms are especially in demand.
“'Yung holo, kontra ‘yan sa sakit po. At kontra sa magnanakaw itong rhino elephant,” explained lucky charm vendor Evelyn Balay on a report on GMA News’ “Saksi.”
Also proving popular were the rooster amulet and amethyst, which are said to prevent third parties in relationships.
“What the mind can conceive, the body can achieve. Why not i-try natin and then walang mawawala, baka naman suwerte ang dumating sa inyo,” Balay added.
But feng shui involves more than just buying lucky charms and figurines.
A report on “Saksi” showed that the practice can also mean placing certain items in specific parts of the house. For instance, a glass of clean water placed in the western side of the house will supposedly attract money, while a music box or wind chime placed in the northern part of the house is believed to counter sickness and disease.
Feng shui believer Eugene Ang shared on “Saksi,” “so far every year, may makikita kang improvement. May growth in a lot of aspects.”
Christopher Tan, another feng shui believer, also said, “Napakasimple lang kasi you don’t have to buy all those expensive materials. With my faith and prayer sa taas, nagkaro’n ng harmony ang bahay namin ulit.”
But Balay was quick to add that all these luck-bringing traditions do not automatically guarantee a successful, trouble-free year.
“Etong mga feng shui items, hindi naman puwedeng puro lucky charms lang. Half hard work, half luck, so try niyo,” she said.
Well, whether or not the customs that make up the Chinese New Year actually bring luck, they at least guarantee a lively and exciting celebration that is no longer only significant to the Chinese community, but to a lot of Filipinos as well. –KG, GMA News
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