Filipino-Chinese New Year's myths and traditions

MANILA, Philippines - Chinese New Year is considered the most important festival in the Chinese community as it gives the hope of attracting luck, strong family ties, prosperity, and peace.

It begins on the first day (January 31) of the lunar calendar (Lunar New Year), which is considered the beginning of spring.

The Chinese New Year is rich with myths and traditions that have been passed through the years.

“There is not much difference between Filipino New Year except for the fact that Chinese have more traditions,” said Maria Chiu, 56 years old Filipino-Chinese citizen, residing in Antipolo City, Rizal.

Chiu said part of their practice is to keep their house clean that means getting rid of the old and welcome the new ones and prepare foods like white fish that symbolizes wealth, they also prepare tikoy that is a sign for unity with its sticky features symbolizing strong bond of the family.

“Candies are thrown away on streets to attract prosperity, we also use firecrackers to drive away evil spirits. It is believed that the person who launched the first Fireworks in the New Year will get good luck., we prepare pansit that symbolizes long life, use incense to purify the whole house, coins for wealth and get rice in a bowl with rolled paper money for wealth prosperity,” she added.

Meanwhile Liz Mae Ong, 18, a Filipino-Chinese dentistry student at the Centro Escolar University, said offering fruits and lighting Chinese candles are also part of the Chinese traditions during the New Year.

“We offer fruits, and light our Chinese candles or hiu and asks for good health and guidance; we wear red dresses and go to the temple before or on the exact date of the Chinese New Year,” she said.

Ong said they refrain from sweeping and cleaning their house because it might push away the luck in the house.

For her part, Jennica Ong-Gonzales, 19, Filipino-Chinese mass communication student said, “In celebrating Chinese New Year we follow our Chinese Lunar calendar.”

Gonzales said they ask for the expertise of feng shui experts on what lucky color and charms they should wear and they also listen to horoscopes.

“We also ask the dragon dancers to come in our house to drive away bad spirits,” she said.

Myths and traditions have become a part of every Chinese citizen's life and culture that they continue to follow in the belief of attracting luck, driving away bad spirits and to have their wish granted. PNA