2010年2月24日

華人Chinese > 農曆新年 Chinese New Year

中國境內就有很多不同的籍貫,每個籍貫的過年方式都有些許不同。現在就以我家為例,為大家介紹農曆新年的一些習俗與慶祝方式。
In China, people from different region got their own culture, the way they celebrate Chinese New Year also quite different. Now, I’m taking my family as example to introduce some custom and celebration of Lunar New Year.

我的祖先從福建永春飄洋過海到馬來西亞工作、定居,我們家還保留中國傳統習俗,當然慶祝方式也因為我國的影響與限制而有些不同。
My great grandfather came from FuJian, YongChun. He work and stay in Malaysia, so our family still retain a traditional Chinese custom. Of course, ways to celebrate Chinese New Year is slightly different from FuJian due to Malaysia regulation.

農曆新年對華人來說是大日子;但很多人都不知道其實韓國人、越南人、朝鮮人等都有在過農曆新年。農曆與西曆一樣有十二個月,分為二十四節氣,其道理及計算方式有點複雜,在此不多說明。
Lunar New Year is a big day for the Chinese; but in fact many people do not know Sount Korean, Vietnamese, North Koreans and others celebrate Lunar New Year, too. The Chinese calendar is similar to Western calendar which has 12 months a year and it divided into 24 solar terms. The reason and method of calculating is a bit complicated, so I’m not going to explain here.

所謂農曆新年就是正月初一,也就是農曆的第一天。這一天,華人習慣穿上大紅大紫、說吉利討喜的話,不能爭執。這天,我們不能掃地,因為不要把財神帶給我們的財富給掃走。長輩會派紅包給小輩,紅包也稱為壓歲錢。
The Lunar New Year is on the first month first day of Chinese calendar. On this day, Chinese need to wear new attire in red, talk propitiously and cannot fight. On that day, we can not sweep the floor, because it will “sweep” away the wealth given by God of Wealth. Elders will send a red packet to the younger, a red packet also known as lucky money.

相傳有個叫做「祟」的小妖會在年三十晚來摸小孩的頭,孩子會嚇哭、生病,於是很多父母徹夜未眠守祟(歲)。一對年邁的夫婦為了防止「祟」來摸小孩的頭,在孩子枕邊放了八枚銅錢。夜晚小妖「祟」想要來撫摸小孩的頭;但被銅錢所發出的閃光擊退了。此時傳開後,大家就效仿這對夫婦給孩子八枚銅錢。最後取諧音而形成「壓歲錢」的由來。
According to legend, a demon name “Sui” will come and child's head on new year eve, the child will be scared and cry, ill. That’s why many parents sleepless whole night to look after their children, that’s what we called “Shou Sui”(Keep their eyes on Sui). An elderly couple put 8 coins below their child’s pillow, when the night comes, the demon “Sui” came, and it was repulsed by the coins. Since then, every parents follow to give their children coins every Chinese New Year, also known as lucky money.

年三十晚,也稱為除夕夜,全家人會聚集在一起吃年夜飯。通常一家人會選擇坐在圓桌上吃飯,象徵團圓。過了十二點,我們就燃放鞭炮,希望響亮的聲音及火光能把小妖「祟」給趕走。同時,家家戶戶也在此時迎接財神,希望一整年能有財運及好運。
New Year Eve is the day whole family gathers and has dinner together. Normally we will sit on a round table symbolizing reunion. After 12 o’clock, we set off firecrackers, hoping the loud sound able to repulse the demon. At the same time, every family welcome the God of Wealth, wish to have wealth and good luck throughout the year.


我家人數眾多,無法用一張圓桌吃團圓飯啦~ I got a big family, so can't sit on a round table. ^^

年除夕晚接財神 Welcoming God of Wealth on New Year Eve


新年的第二天是回娘家的日子,大家都會回到媽媽或者老婆的家拜年。第七天是人日,也就是大家的生日。根據習俗,我們都會撈魚生,慶祝你我他的生日。而年初九是天公的生日,福建人都會拜拜,所謂天公就是天上的老大-玉皇大帝。
Second day of New Year is the day to return home of a married woman, normally we will back to our mother’s or wife’s house on this day. The seventh day is “Human Day”, we will Lao Yu-Sheng to celebrate yours, his, my and everyone’s birthday. While the ninth day of new year is the God—Yu Huang Emperor’s birthday, FuJian(Hokkien) will pray on this day.


年初九拜天公 Praying on the ninth day of CNY

年十五是新年的最後一天,過了這一天新年也正式結束了。古代未婚男女會在這一天去逛燈會,這也是他們物色伴侶的好時機。未婚女子會到河邊拋柑,未婚的男子若看到中意的女子,年後就會到府上去提親。相傳下來也變成中國情人節了。
The 15th day is the last day of CNY, ancient unmarried gentlemen and ladies will go to the lantern festival; this is a chance for them to look for a partner. The ladies will throw the mandarin oranges into the river, while if the gentlemen found his ideal one, his family will go her house to propose after CNY. So, today is also known as Chinese Valentine’s Day.

新年我阿嬤也會拜床母。據說哥哥小時候是個哭包,夜晚常常哭鬧不睡覺,所以阿嬤就拜床母讓哥哥好眠。拜床母每年都要拜,而且都要煮同樣的菜,還有兩個銅錢要一直掛在床頭。我們全家都已經不住阿嬤家很久了,不過阿嬤說家裡最小的女兒超過16歲之後才不用再繼續拜。這就是習俗,信者恆信。

Every CNY, my grandma also will pray the “mother of bed” (it’s a god). Grandma said my brother used to be a crying baby, not sleeping at night, so she pray the “mother of bed” every year in order to let my brother sleep tight every night. It needs to cook the same dishes every year, together with two ancient coins which need to be hung on bed. But we had moved away from grandma’s house for years, I wonder does it still work. But grandma said only can stop praying after the youngest child over 16 years old. This is custom, for whoever believe, it happens.

拜床母 Pray for "Mother of Bed"




*我可愛的家人 My Lovely Family