Skeptical: Chinese New Year

Photo credits: http://www.seenobjects.org/2005-02-09-chinese-new-year

A rather obtuse and skeptical take on the lunar new year,

• Spring Cleaning is just another way to make sure the Chinese clean their homes.
• Spring Cleaning= Dust-fest.
• Ang Paos (Red Packets) are rewards for kids who help in Spring Cleaning, much like how you get presents if you’ve been good all year round, at Christmas.
• Wearing black or dark colors doesn’t mean you’ll be unlucky, it just means you dislike dressing up in bright colors.
• Cutting/trimming/getting a new hair-do is spring cleaning yourself.
• Technically all you need to survive Chinese New Year is a new shirt (don’t even bother with jeans/pants) and a pair of oranges and you’re good to rock and roll.
• Don’t worry monsters are a thing of the past. That’s why we don’t need firecrackers.
• New year puns in text messages are awesome; eg,“Have a roaring new year” (with reference to the year of the Tiger).
• Chinese horoscopes (or horoscopes in general) usually aren’t accurate.
• Yusheng (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusheng) is the only good reason to mess things up during the New Year.

Take the above with a pinch of salt.

That being said, Chinese New Year is all about the family and showing appreciation, much like other festivals, which are pockets for quality family time. Also, it stresses on a good start to the new year!

Everyone should therefore, embrace the festival and appreciate the beauty and significance behind the customs involved.

Happy Chinese New Year to all readers.