Chinese New Year

mesOrigin:
The Chinese new year is now popularly known as the Spring Festival because it starts on the beginning of Spring. In Chinese, "year" - Nian, was originally the name of a monster beast which preys on people at night before the beginning of a year.
One legend goes that the beast, Nian, had a very big mouth that could swallow a people with one bite. People were terrified of it. One day, an old man came to their rescue, by offering Nian, "I hearsay that you are very capable, but can you swallow the other beast on Earth instead of people who are by no means of your worthy opponents. "From then Nian preyed on beasts on the earth that also harassed people and their domestic animals.After that, the old man disappeared riding the beast Nian. The old man turned out to be an immortal that's supposed to get rid of Nian and other beasts of prey into the forests.The people began to enjoy life. Before the old man left, he told the people to put up red paper decorations on their window at each year's end to scare away Nian in case it came back again, because red is the colour it feared most.
The other version goes that the beast Nian would emerge from the mountains and prey on people on the eve of every new year.Then, an old man said that Nian was afraid of loud noises and the colour, red. Hence, before its arrival on the eve of the new year, people put up red paper on their doors and windows. When the beast arrived, everyone would start to hit drums, pots, light fire crackers to scare it away. This ingenious ploy did its trick, and Nian did not appear anymore. This heralded the beginning of red paper decorations, lighting of fire crackers and the lion dance during Chinese New Year.


Significance:
CNY (Chun Jie) symbolises the beginning of the year, a fresh start in one's life. It also symbolises fresh hopes for happiness and prosperity among mankind. Chinese New Year is a time to renew and reaffirm family and kinship ties. It is also a time to resolve disputes and grudges. CNY activities like reunion dinners, visits among relatives and friends and the exchange of gifts serve to remind the Chinese of the central position the family occupies in the society.


Observances:
1. After dinner on the eve, one is not supposed to sweep anything out of the house. If one has to sweep anything, he or she would have to sweep it in. This is done so good luck will not be swept away.
2. If someone breaks anything, he or she would have to utter (Sui Sui Ping An /岁岁平安 ) or (Hua Kai Fu gui /花开富贵 ) which means "peace every year" and prosperity after the arrival of flower blooms.
3. Bad, vulgar or unpleasant topics are to be discouraged.
4. Debts are to be settled before the arrival of the new year.
5. All visitors are not encouraged to wear black because black is deemed to by inauspicious.
6. All relatives gather at their grandparents house for reunion dinners.
7. There will be an exchange of mandarin oranges when they visit as a sign of respect and greeting.
8. Red packets(ang paos) are given by married people to non-married people.
9. Yu sheng is tossed during reunion dinners to signify wealth and prosperity.
10. New clothes are worn during the new year.


Acknowledgments:
http://www.huayinet.org/culture/sitemap_culture_festivals_chunjie.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Parc/1486/festival/cny.html
http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/chinese_new_year.html
http://www.indiana.edu/~chasso/holiday.html
http://myweb.gettinghere.com/country/phil/event.cfm
http://www.rice.edu/projects/topics/internatl/holidays/new-years-page1.htm
http://www.google.com.sg/

Qing Ming

Origin:

According to Chinese legend, the festival was held in memory of Jie Zitui who lived during the Spring and Autumn Period. Ji Zhong’er, the eldest son of Duke Xian of the Jin State, was falsely accused of rebellion by one of the Duke’s concubines because she wanted her own son to be crown prince. Zitui, a loyal retainer of Zhong’er, smuggled him out of Jin by night. As Zhong’er had always shown concern for his people’s welfare, Zitui did his best to care for the prince during exile.
After the death of the concubine, soldiers were sent to look for Zhong’er and escort him home. Entering his carriage, Zhong’er saw an official packing an old mat on to a horse. Laughing, he said, “What on earth is the use of that? Throw it away!” Zitui heard this and concluded that the prince would share only hardship with him but not prosperity.
He went into the mountains to live with his elderly mother in seclusion. When Zhong’er became Duke Wen of Jin, he rewarded those who had assisted him during his exile but forgot what Zitui had done for him. Plagued by guilt, Duke Wen and his ministers tried in vain to find Zitui in the mountains; he then ordered the mountain forests set on fire, believing that Zitui,
would surely flee the blaze with his mother.
After the fire had burned for three days and three nights, Zitui and his mother were found dead under a willow tree, with a note written in blood by Zitui to Duke Wen: “I cut off my flesh as a dedication to wish that you, my king, will always be clear and bright.” Duke Wen, bitterly regretting his actions and extremely saddened, decreed that the day was to be observed in memory of Zitui as the Cold Food Festival, on which no fire or smoke was permitted and only cold food was to be eaten. During the Qing Dynasty, observance of the Cold Food Festival merged with that of the Qing Ming Festival.


Significance:
Originally, Qing Ming marks the high time of spring and planting in agriculture in China. However, now in Southeast Asia, ancestors are honoured as filial piety and knowing one’s roots are among the traditional and core values of the Chinese.

Observances:
Qing Ming Festival is a Chinese festival held on the first day of the fifth solar term of the Chinese year, usually around the third day of the third lunar month.The Qing Ming Festival starts from ten days before and ends ten days after the actual Qing Ming day. The festival marks the transition from spring to summer. During the festival the graves of ancestors are visited and tended to by cutting the grass and sweeping the graves. Respects are paid to deceased ancestors through rituals such as the offering of flowers, food and joss-paper; the burning of joss-sticks and hell notes.


Acknowledgements:
http://pachome2.pacific.net.sg/~willows5/singlish_Q.htm
http://www.nhb.gov.sg/discover_heritage/heritagekids/feature_articles/feature_festival_chinese.shtml http://www.trustcentral.org.sg/Default.aspx?tabid=127

Thaipusam

Origin:

Singapore has a substantial Hindu community. Origin of Thaipusam is the feast for the son of Shiva, Lord Subramaniam.
During the battle between the Asuras and the Devas, the latter were defeated several times by the former. The Devas were unable to resist the onslaught of the Asuric forces. In despair, they approached Lord Siva and entreated to give them an able leader under whose heroic leadership they might obtain victory over the Asuras. They surrendered themselves completely and prayed to Lord Siva sincerely. The gracious Lord granted their request by creating mighty divine warrior, Lord Skanda, out of his own power or Achintya Sakti. This great son of Lord Siva at once assumed leadership of the celestial forces, originated them, inspired them and attacked the asuric forces. The asuras were routed and a glorious victory was gained by the Devas.


Significance:

Thaipusam is one of Hinduism's most auspicious devotional practices associated with endurance and fortitude, patience and perseverance, sacrifice and suffering.

Observances:
All those who wish to ask for a future favor, fulfill a vow in return for a granted favor, or to repent for past sins will participate in this festival. These are noble spiritual values found in all the great religious traditions.
Hindus who perform the rituals connected with Thaipusam such as carrying the kavadi meditate and pray, apart from observing various dietary restrictions, in reparation for this act of religious devotion.
They also offer prayers, either by piercing their chest with spikes and lemon, pulling a chariot from Srinivasa Perumal Temple, or carrying Kavadis. The devotees offer their prayers and fulfill their vows.
The Vel (holy spear) in the sanctum is showered with milk continuously for hours. Many raised the stakes by entering a trance, and piercing their bodies with skewers.
Also, their shoe are also had a wooden base, with about 60 to 100 nails sticking out of the base. *kavadi is a cage-like structure carried by devotees during the Thaipusam Festival. It is decorated with peacock feathers and aluminium plates which show images of Hindu deities.
Thaipusam is an intense demonstration of belief and devotion. Others, including young children, might join the procession carrying only milk pots.


Acknowledgements:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaipusamhttp://glennh.tripod.com/wa_sing_tpsm.htm
http://www.singapore-hotels-guide.com/singapore-hotels-guide/festivals/thaipusam.htm
http://www.sttemple.com/STT/english/thaipusam.asp
http://www.sttemple.com/STT/english/thaipusam.asphttp://www.google.com.sg/

Baisakhi

Origin:
Guru Gobind Singh, honoured as the greatest Sikh leader, was the most dynamic of all the gurus who consolidated Sikhism and gave it the modern form it has today. On the first day of the month of Vaishakh in 1699, he established a new militant order of Sikhs called the Khalsa. Holding a naked sword in his hand, he announced to a large gathering of his followers at Anandpur Sahib that he would choose five men who were prepared to sacrifice their lives for the brotherhood. The Guru took him into a tent and brought back the sword dipped in blood. Despite the fear engendered by this sight, the next four men came forward. It so transpired that Guru Gobind Singh had dipped the sword in goat's blood to test the devotion of the five men. These men were chosen by the Guru as the Panj Pyaras. They were 'baptised' as the first Khalsa, whose lives would be a lesson in devotion, sacrifice and brotherhood. They were given the rites of Khanda Pahul or Khanda ka Arnrit and swore to lead a life devoted to the service of the religion and its goals of universal brotherhood. The chosen disciples were given the five Ks of Schism-Kachha (shorts), Kesh (long hair), Kangha (comb), Kirpan (dagger), and ada (iron bangle) .

Significance:
Apart from being important for the farmers as a harvest festival, the festival is of prime importance in Sikhism as a foundation day of Khalsa Panth.
The festival of Baisakhi falls on April 13 every year and April 14 once in every 36 years.
Astrologically, the date of Baisakhi is significant as marks sun’s entry into Mesh Rashi.
Baisakhi Festival is also celebrated as a Thanksgiving Day festival. Baisakhi is of major importance for the people following Sikh faith. On the same day the guru administered amrit (nectar) to his first batch of five disciples making them Singhs, a martial community. By doing so, he eliminated the differences of high and low and established that all human beings were equal.

Observances:
A series of parades are held, in which sets of five men walk in front of the holy book with swords drawn. When the ceremony is over, a round of feasting, music-making, and dancing begins, amid the blossoming flowers and harvested grain.


Acknowledgements:
http://images.google.com.sg/images?hl=en&q=baisakhi&gbv=2
http://www.travels.talash.com/india-fairs-festivals/baikashi-april-fairs-festivals-india.html
http://www.baisakhifestival.com/