NewYeartraditionsreflectChineseculturaldiversity

　　TAIPEI,Taiwan--Astheyhaveforthousandsofyears,onthenightofFeb.6,millionsofpeopleacrossTaiwanandmuchofAsiawillbecrammingtheroads,highways,andtrainstomakeitbacktotheirparents’homesintimefortheChineseLunarNewYear’sEvecelebrations.Overtime,amultitudeoftraditionshavebecomepartoftheNewYearcelebrationsthatencompassTaiwanandChina’sdiversehistoryandpeople.Whilemanydifferentstoriesexist,accordingtolegend,thepracticeofcomingtogetheronNewYear’sEvebeganasawaytoprotectagainstNianshou~,or“yearbeast.”Thisbeastissaidtobeunabletolookatthecolorredandtobeafraidofloudnoises.Thecustomofhangingredspringcoupletsorchunlian,aroundthefrontdoorbeforetheNewYearhasitsoriginsinthisstory,astheyaretopreventthebeastfromenteringthehome.Further,topreventthebeastfromattacking,afamilywouldcometogethertomakeloudnoiseslateintotheevening.

　　Today,whilemostpeoplearenotafraidofNianshou,familymembersstillgatheronNewYear’sEveforalargemealandstayuplateintothenightplayingmahjong,watchingtelevisionorsimplychatting.Thosewhoaremarriedgiveredpackets,orhongbao,withmoneyinsidetounmarriedmembersofthefamily.Whiletheamountofmoneyvaries,itisalwaysimportantthatitmakesanauspiciousnumberorcombination,suchaseight,orpairsofnumbers(e.g.twoNT$100).Asmidnightarrives,familieslightloudfirecrackerstomarkthecomingoftheNewYear.

　　Aswithmostholidays,foodplaysanimportantroleintheNewYearcelebrations.ManydishesareeatenduringtheNewYearbecausetheyareseenassymbolsofgoodluckandensureprosperityforthecomingyear.Forexample,fish(yu)represent“havingenoughtospare,”fishandmeatballs(yuwanandrouwan)symbolize“reunion,”andgarlicchives(jiucai)mean“everlasting.”FamiliesalsoprepareaNewYear’scake(niangao),whichwhenitrisessignifies“advancementtowardhigherprosperity.”Finally,familiesalsousuallyeatdumplingsbecausetheylooksimilartosilveringots,andthosethateatthemaresaidtohavewealthintheNewYear.

　　AlongwithNewYear’sEvecelebrations,therearecustomsandtraditionsthatarepracticedduringthefollowing15days,togetherknowasSpringFestival(chunjie).OnthefirstdayitisimportanttowakeupearlyandwelcomeintheNewYear,thestreetsfloodedwithpeopleouttosendNewYear’sgreetingsandwishes.Duringthesecondday,marriedwomenaretoreturntotheirparents’houseinordertooffergoodwishesfortheNewYear.

　　Acommonbeliefisthatdaughtersreturninghomeonthefirstdaywillbringpovertytothefamily.Thefourthdayisthedayto“greetthegods,”(anshen),andfamiliesacrossTaiwanwillpreparegiftsoffruit,wineandotherdelicaciestowelcomeandhonorthegodsbackintotheirhomes.Onthefifthday,marketsandbusinessesstartupagainandcelebratetheNewYear.Ontheninthday,numerousofferingsaresetoutintemplestocelebratethebirthdayoftheJadeEmperor,whoisbelievedtohavebeenbornrightaftermidnightontheninthday.Finally,the15thandfinaldayoftheSpringFestivalistheLanternFestival.Onthisday,decorativelanternsareputupallaroundtheisland.

　　Ofcourse,associetyhaschanged,sohavetraditions.“ThesedaysmoreandmorepeoplearetravelingabroadduringtheNewYearholidays,”sai