day of the Lunar New Year, and according to the Chinese Zodiac, the 1st
day of the Year of the Rat. Chinese New Year is also known as "chun
jie" or "spring festival" as it signals the arrival of
spring. Traditionally, Chinese New Year is celebrated over a period of
15 days starting from the first day of the first month of the lunar
calendar. There are many variations of the legend of how Chinese New
Year originated. One version describes a tale of a ferocious beast known
as "Nian" who terrorized villagers on Chinese New Year’s Eve at
night. The villagers lived in fear and dreaded Chinese New Year’s eve.
Then, an old man said that the beast feared loud noises and the colour
"red". So before its arrival on the eve, people would put up red paper
on their doors and windows and when it comes, all would start to hit
drums, and light fire crackers to scare the beast away. Hence, the
beginning of red paper decorations, lighting of fire crackers and lion
dances, etc.
Chinese New Year is probably the most important,
elaborate and colourful of all the Chinese festivals. It symbolizes the
beginning of a new year and a fresh start with new hopes for happiness
and prosperity. Shooting off firecrackers on Chinese New Year’s Eve is
the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the New
Year. It is also a time for renewing family relationships through
reunion dinners and visits between relatives and friends. While the
festive mood is in the air, Chinese Christians in non-Christian homes
often face the dilemma of what they can do or cannot do during Chinese
New Year. For those who have been delivered from the idolatry of the
past we know that Chinese New Year celebration has a history steeped in
the worship of idols and superstitious and pagan practices where the
Chinese hope to usher in good luck and prosperity for the coming year.
How should a Christian celebrate Chinese New Year?
1. Traditional Celebrations of CNY
As with all Chinese festivals, there are customs,
traditions and superstitions attached to the celebration of this festive
occasion. It is customary for the Chinese families to do a general
spring cleaning of their homes to make sure that the house is spick and
span for the New Year. All brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans, etc. are
put away, and sweeping or dusting should not be done on Chinese New
Year’s Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away. The last day
of the old year is also the time to settle debts. All debts had to be
paid by this time. Tradition stipulates that all food be prepared before
the New Year’s Day, so that all sharp instruments, such as knives and
scissors, should be put away to avoid cutting the "luck" of the new
year. In the hope of obtaining good fortune in the coming year, some
families make it a point to put up chun lian (spring couplets).
Doors and windows would be decorated with paper couplets with verses
such as "Gong Xi Fa Cai", "Wan Shi Ru Yi", "Long Ma Jing Shen",
etc.
Chinese New Year’s Eve begins with a reunion dinner,
where family members gather together usually at our parents’ place. The
reunion dinner is among the most important family occasions of the year.
The meal is sumptuous and we celebrate it by having a steamboat and lots
of good food for a good feast signifies abundance and prosperity. We
usually will have the Chinese cake called "Nian Gao" as it means
"Nian Nian Bu Bu Gao Sheng". After the reunion dinner, the whole
family will sit up for the night watching TV and playing cards/board
games. On the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, every door in the
house, and even windows, has to be opened to allow the old year to go
out and to usher in the new.
Traditionally, the Chinese New Year is welcomed with
lion dances and parades (chinggay). And everyone puts on new clothes and
his best behavior. Red clothing is preferred during this festive
occasion. We also should only speak good words and cannot break anything
on the first day because it is considered "bad luck" for the rest of the
year. Everyone should refrain from using bad or "unlucky words" such as
"ssu" or "si". What are some of the symbols and rituals
that we use for our Chinese New Year celebration? We have oranges which
symbolize gold, the colour red that we see all over such as our clothes,
"Ang Pows" which symbolize prosperity, good health, success and
therefore happiness. Some even hang paper pineapples in their homes.
Why? Because in Chinese, pineapple is called Ong Lai", and this
means "may good luck come to our homes" (hence, pineapple tarts). In
Chinese New Year cards too, we see lots of pictures of gold bars, again
to wish people prosperity and wealth.
During Chinese New Year, parents and other relatives
distribute hong bao to the family’s unmarried children as a
gesture of good fortune. Starting from the second day of Chinese New
Year, people begin going out to visit friends and relatives. A must-try
is the truly Singaporean dish of "Prosperity Yu Sheng",
comprising raw fish slices tossed with shredded vegetables and a
generous serving of auspicious wishes for the New Year.
With the passage of time, Chinese New Year has been
secularized and many traditional forms of celebration have now been
replaced by modern forms, including, (i) gambling – playing cards at
home, toto, 4D, horse-racing; and, (ii) eating, drinking, merry-making,
etc. You will realize that there are many superstitions and pagan
beliefs associated with the celebration of Chinese New Year, and with
inordinate emphasis on good luck or fortune, and material prosperity and
success. Understanding all these is essential for Christians so that we
may know those customs and rites which contradict biblical teaching and
should not be followed, and those which express propriety and filial
piety which should be taught and preserved.
2. Reconciling Chinese Culture & Christian
Teachings
There is much in our Chinese culture which is good
and promotes good virtues (filial piety, respect, etc). There is much
which is morally neutral and therefore to be followed with wisdom
(greetings, angpows). But there is also much which is evil, which
contradicts God’s Word, and is to be avoided (superstitions, emphasis on
good luck). The struggle for Christians, therefore, lies in how we are
to maintain an active appreciation of our cultural heritage without
compromising our faith.
The Chinese Christian must have a correct
understanding of Chinese traditions and their significance so that he
can deal with these issues wisely from a biblical standpoint, and is a
good witness and testimony for Christ. This includes understanding the
original beliefs as well as the current attitudes. It is important to
understand the particular tradition, examine its cultural, historical
and religious roots. Is it a religious or cultural practice? Like spring
cleaning in preparation for Chinese New Year is an acceptable practice,
but do not get caught up in the superstitious belief if you sweep the
floor during Chinese New Year, you will lose your blessings and good
fortune. It is the Lord who gives us our wealth (Prov 22:2). Concerning
the eating of "yusheng", it is not wrong to ask the Lord for
spiritual and financial prosperity and well-being but we must be careful
not to be unduly concerned about material wealth and success. As the
Lord blesses you, remember Deut 8:18.
So should a Christian wish others a happy new year?
There is no harm with a general well wishing during this time just like
during a birthday occasion or during a wedding. However, a Christian
should be careful not to wish the non-Christians prosperity in the sense
of wishing them good luck. How about going around with mandarin oranges?
The fruit in itself is actually altogether nothing but to the
non-Christians, this fruit is significant in that they believe this will
bring them luck and good fortune. Do it with understanding; success
comes from the Lord (Ps 75:6). As for Chinese New Year goodies such as
BBQ pork, pineapple tarts, melon seed, F&N orange drinks, etc., remember
to give thanks, enjoy it and eat in moderation (1 Cor 10:31).
It is important to discern the practices that we may
engage in and those we may not. We should not adhere blindly to
traditions nor deliberately reject one’s past. We must choose between
the practices of Chinese New Year that are acceptable and rejecting
those that are not. And this comes from a clear understanding of what is
involved in the manner we celebrate Chinese New Year.
It is important to make clear our Christian
principles and convictions which should be supported by consistent
Christian living. Chinese culture, especially during Chinese New Year,
places a great deal of emphasis on filial piety. We must communicate our
appreciation and respect for filial piety. And filial piety must be seen
in the light of children showing their love and care for the elderly and
parents while they are still alive. This is the best way to prove our
filial piety to our loved ones. We should assure our parents of our love
and respect for them in a way that is tangible to them. Mere words or
just showing them the Scripture passage on honouring parents would never
be sufficient to get the message across to them. One has to say it in
action such as regular financial support and gifts, obedience and
submission in our daily lives. This fulfils scriptural instructions to
honour our parents while they are still alive.
Because of the many vices during Chinese New Year –
gambling, merry-making, gluttony, revelry, etc – we must be careful
about our participation and of our testimony for the Lord. Chinese
Christians are often seen to compromise their faith by participating in
the many rituals and practices. If Chinese customs and culture infringe
on biblical standards, we must, at all cost, seek to honour God (1 Sam
2:30), and to obey His Word. We must also seek to explain to our loved
ones the reasons for our actions so that they would not think that we
are in any way un-filial. We are not objecting to our Chinese tradition,
nor respect for our ancestors or elders. We are objecting to the
unscriptural assumption of worshipping the dead. Indiscriminate
rejection and rigid exercises very often cause unnecessary
misunderstanding and complications. Our reasons for not participating in
any religious or ancestor worship must be clearly communicated to our
parents and elders with respect. Best of all, show them what it means to
be a Christian through our life daily.
Despite all the superstitions and myths surrounding
Chinese New Year, it is an integral part of our Chinese culture and
tradition. Unfortunately, we focus too much on material success and
wealth – with undue emphasis on good luck and fortune. Rather, we must
put God in the centre of our culture and lives because at the core of
our being and image is God Himself. Being Chinese Christians, we should
celebrate Chinese New Year to maintain our Chinese identity and
heritage, but with a Christian perspective. How can you celebrate
Chinese New Year?
§ Thanksgiving. Chinese New Year is a time of
thanksgiving unto the Lord. The reunion dinner is a good tradition to
keep. Make every effort to reunite with your parents and loved ones and
sit round the dining table for a good time of physical refreshment and
fellowship. As believers, we look to God for the provision of our daily
needs and it is His promise that He knows our needs and will always
provide for us. The Christian family should make the reunion dinner a
thanksgiving celebration of the mercies of God in providing for, and
protecting the family.
§ Family Ties. Chinese New Year is a time for
family reunions & the visiting of relatives and friends. In fact,
Chinese New Year aptly reminds us that strong families are important, as
they are the basis for a strong society.
§ Filial Piety. Chinese New Year is a good
time to show love and respect for our parents. This is proper and
consistent with our Christian value of honouring our parents.
§ Honouring the Lord with our Substance.
Chinese New Year is also a time for giving and honouring the Lord with
our substance, ie. bring an angpow for the Lord.
§ Evangelism. Chinese New year is a good time
for sharing God’s love with loved ones, relatives and friends. In normal
circumstances, we seldom visit each other. We only see each other on
special occasions. So as you go visiting, ask God to give you an
opportunity to share Christ with them.
Chinese Christians should celebrate Chinese New Year so as to
maintain our ethnic identity. Our Chinese culture is invaluable and
important because it expresses our roots, of who we are. But as
Christians the deepest part of ourselves and the real meaning of who we
are are found in our relationship with God, our Creator and Maker. —Elder
Ng Beng Kiong
* * *
1) Chinese New Year Combined Service. 7
Feb 08 (Thu), 8.00 am. Speaker: Rev Peter Chng. Topic: Hearts
filled with True Blessings. Mandarin with English interpretation.
2) Membership Roll Update Exercise: If you
are a member of Life B-P Church, please fill the form and submit it
through the offering bags or the box at the church entrance BY
TODAY!
4) Hymns of Grace and Glory. Sold out! You
may place your order now for the next shipment at the MIS Office from
9.30 am to 12.30 pm today.
5) The Lim Family wish to thank all who came
to comfort them on the homegoing of their father, Lim Kheng Liang, on 27
Jan 08. Also, those who could not make it but sent their condolences.
Thanks to the pastor, session and members of Life BPC, as well as other
churches, relatives, neighbors, friends, colleagues and everyone who has
helped.
Preaching appointment: Rev Seet at JB Sunset Gospel Hour,
6.00 pm.
