CNY is the most celebrated festival in Singapore which is colorful and full with cultural and traditional understanding of generations. However, a never exhaustive list of superstitions and customs practiced by the Chinese during CNY include the following: These taboos are very much a part of Singaporean Chinese families to overlook them or even simplify them in terms of literal observation become synonymous to iconographic symbolism.
One CNY superstition that is popular up to now is the idea of first opening the year to have a desirable result for the rest of the year. That is why communities believe that first five days of CNY established the foundation for the rest of the year and families take really good care what they say and do during these special days. For instance, fighting, or using any abusive language is prohibited as this is believed to attract misfortune. Some go to a point of not scolding their children, having negative things to say or even arguing. First of the firsts is the first light of the new year as watching it means you are beginning anew.
It is taboo to sweep the floor during CNY because it is considered equal to sweeping the fortune away from the house. For example, the traditional methods such as wet sweeping, and the dry sweeping, which is more common are prohibited for the first five days of the Chinese New Year because one can easily harm the luck of prosperity. In concert with this custom, the disposal of garbage is also done with the same regard, for the following reasons. Most families delay their house cleaning for a few days after CNY to ensure that the blessings received will have time to ‘stick’.
Emphasizing the aspect of avoiding the ‘generating of paltry gifts,’ is also avoided while giving and receiving gifts. Other banned gifts are clocks, watches and shoes because the words in Mandarin sound like death, dying and evil respectively. Other prohibited items are scissors and knives because they represent severing off of relationships. Conversely, love, sweetmeats, mandarin oranges, pineapples and peonies are preferred because of their connotations of prosperity and wealth.
Nothing is as important as observing the relative customs at a house when visiting relatives and friends with the aim of attracting good fortunes. It is unheard of that elderly people are not greeted before others as this is considered rude and that when red packets of money are given one must accept with two hands. Fruits will be offered to any guest that visits the house, representing different things such as oranges representing prosperity and tangerines representing fortune. Biting on pineapple tarts and drinking sugar cane is also customary as the words sound like “prosperity” and ‘growth’ in Mandarin langue.
On the other hand, blessings such as “ wishing you prosperity” is shunned as elders believe that cursing has preceded the blessing. Other forms of speech prohibited during Takin about ghosts month and funerals are sure to elicit anguish. In case the guests overhear such a conversation, they should then change the topic since talking of bad luck may bring it.
Among all this customs of CNY, the most emphasized is certainly the part with feasting. In Singapore, steaming hot bak kwa (barbecued pork) is insistently traditionally associated with this holiday, and people stand in line for hours begging for the finest brands. Having fish and abalone is also compulsory as because in Chinese, “have fish every year” and “have surplus every year” are synonymous. Siyu, nian gao (glutinous rice cake), lobster and jai (vegetarian dish) is usually mandatory dish are longevity noodles one of which symbolizes longevity two, nian gao three, lobster and jai more success or money for the house. Having reunions with extended relatives who stay up all night feasting on steamboat or indulging in fine food spread is a common occurrence.
Chinese New Year would not be complete and proper without the tossing of yusheng or raw fish salad since tossingifies the new year’s good luck and energy towards the family as wealth and vitality. Surrounding a large platter piled with coleslaw, pickles, crackers, and various sauces, family members grab the meal that was called out for them by their personal name, and lifting it up or shouting ‘Happy Birthday’. The more the platter is lifted, the better the money and blessings to be had. Usually, the yusheng is not supposed to be picked up directly by the married women as it is believed that all the fortunes improve with it pass on to the in-laws.
This color is definitely the most famous color during CNY as it symbolizes luck, happiness, and prosperity. Recipe that takes time for each individual fishes that are prepared with rice fish boiled in hot spicy soup named as tutug son determined by the red color. In elders’ traditions, they bless the young by giving them red packets with notes of money inside. It is common to put on new attire – red new clothes and shoes, and above all new attire, especially on the first day, to court luck. The streets are decorated colourfully in red; portraying banners, couplets, and lanterns. Entrance doors of homes are adorned beautifully carved red images of chinese gods and goddess, poems and juiciful tangerines bearing mascera of ‘peace and prosperity’. Shop fronts readily put up pink and gold shiny curtains to call on black market business.
Although it is seen by some residents of Jakarta as unhygienic or quite antiquated, failing to wash hair on the first day of CNY is still regarded as rather sacred for the purpose of holding good fortune. The first hair wash is done after four days, in a symbolic way, to wash away all that happened in the previous year that is bad luck. After such hair washing new clothes and shoes worn after this signify fresh begining and opportunities. Even if the younger generation Singaporeans may not subscribe completely to any of the above notions, they go through motions of tradition out of respect.
Apart from considering supernatural features, these trends depicted to Singaporeans reassure them to reason, be careful, and intentional as they start the year with proper conduct and words that can change the course of life. For some, conservatism fosters relationships and a sense of belonging, while for others, traditions are their vital link to kin and community. During the festivities, philosophy takes a backseat as locals actively ward off gloom by embracing customs, including indulging in CNY goodies, as old as time, in hopes of another chance at a prosperous and joyful year. Finally, it is by witnessing these unique beliefs and practices that I truly experience Singaporean Chinese culture up close and personal, right at its core.