tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340609212460153889.post4851691196542776809..comments2012-09-18T08:38:38.327-07:00Comments on Eighty8Percent: The Validity of Chinese TraditionsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16936898420389076587noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340609212460153889.post-82870182143054410062011-02-03T05:45:48.000-08:002011-02-03T05:45:48.000-08:00I obsess over various fortune websites and lament ...I obsess over various fortune websites and lament about my poor luck to come. It's very Chinese to find weird pleasure in bad news.Christine Channoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340609212460153889.post-54796159523017134942011-02-03T05:38:50.000-08:002011-02-03T05:38:50.000-08:00I used to do dragon dance for my high school on th...I used to do dragon dance for my high school on those years when they bothered to get into lunar new year. Except I didn't know how to do dragon dancing, so I just hopped up and down a lot and got into people's faces til they walked away in disgust. True story.Iannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340609212460153889.post-22170207579712844042011-02-10T14:15:57.000-08:002011-02-10T14:15:57.000-08:00The ones I got from China and maybe from growing u...The ones I got from China and maybe from growing up? I can't remember which now:<br>1. Noodles - eat noodles for long life<br>2. Pomegranate, grapes, seeds - eat things like that for bountiful year (and maybe fertility?)<br>3. clean the house the day before, shower the day before, haircut the day before - basically do everything the day before so that you start the New Year's day perfect. If you do, then that's how the rest of the year is supposed to be. <br>4. We always had to say 新年快乐,万事如意 to my mom before we got the hong bao.Meinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340609212460153889.post-3539129858244158332011-02-03T05:49:50.000-08:002011-02-03T05:49:50.000-08:00Maybe it's because I grew up in the northern p...Maybe it's because I grew up in the northern part of China, but I don't recall my family/relatives being so superstitious or obsessed with lucky numbers. I get the impression that people from the south (Guangzhou, Fujian, etc.) are much more concerned about face, status, and luck. <br><br>I haven't gotten a hong bao since I moved to the US when I was 10 (!) because money was so tight back then.<br><br>Nowadays, my CNY tradition is to call up like 20 different relatives back in China and wish them a Happy New Year. And swimming. And sending money back. That's about it. Sigh.Garynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340609212460153889.post-47250958837175738812011-02-03T05:58:25.000-08:002011-02-03T05:58:25.000-08:00Wow! You've done a great job with photos and ...Wow! You've done a great job with photos and text. I don't have traditions to share but I love those you've put down here. On the other hand, perhaps that is a tradition of mine... to explore those of others. :-)Mariahttp://acceleratedstall.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340609212460153889.post-10203763420729525582011-02-03T06:04:12.001-08:002011-02-03T06:04:12.001-08:00I don't really have any Chinese New Year's...I don't really have any Chinese New Year's traditions especially growing up in a white household but I have heard of Hongbaos. I usually get them for my birthday, Christmas, and special events like graduation (last year). I get a lot more than $20 though. In terms of the lion dance, my co-worker is actually in a lion dance crew and they're performing tonight in Chinatown. Can't wait for Dim Sum Go Go!!!!Raymondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340609212460153889.post-44139841287578436162011-02-03T06:04:12.000-08:002011-02-03T06:04:12.000-08:00I will be taking several showers today.I will be taking several showers today.Raymondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340609212460153889.post-26292655030950131362011-02-03T06:36:51.000-08:002011-02-03T06:36:51.000-08:00Good. You need to wash that stanky ass!Good. You need to wash that stanky ass!Garynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340609212460153889.post-6049120947323425162011-02-03T07:09:23.000-08:002011-02-03T07:09:23.000-08:00I grew up with my maternal grandparents, so I thin...I grew up with my maternal grandparents, so I think that is why I ended up following many traditions even though we were in TN. Grandma was from Fuzhou, Grandpa from Guangxi<br><br>1) As a kid, I remember having the hongbao under my pillow. As I got older though, I would receive the hongbao only after going to bainian in front of my parents and grandparents.<br><br>2) TN had no lions, but the Chinatown association here in Boston does to lion dances this time of year. Empty hongbao are distributed so that you can put money in to "feed" the lion.<br><br>3) I've never heard of not washing during New Year, but it is definitely considered bad luck to cut your hair on this day. 髮 being a homonym for 發.<br><br>4) Our family was huge on the New Year food superstitions. We always have nian gao (both the Shanghainese and Cantonese kind), a whole steamed fish (that you can only eat the top fillet and are not allowed to flip it over), fa cai tang (soup made with this moss stuff that looks like hair), noodles, chicken, occasionally dumplings (because they look like gold ingots, a more northern china thing). We also always had oranges and apples displayed.<br><br>5) I was always taught that Teachers' Day is celebrated on Confucius' birthday sometime in fall.<br><br>6) Always wore new clothes to represent the new year. And must be red.<br><br>Other random superstitions and traditions: firecrackers (until we got a citation..), chunlian on the front door, a pot of narcissus, not allowed to sweep or clean the house on new year's day, tang yuan on the last day of the new year period..Ryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340609212460153889.post-5611411629814302612011-02-03T07:21:44.000-08:002011-02-03T07:21:44.000-08:00I forgot about a bunch of those things I love too!...I forgot about a bunch of those things I love too! Like tang yuan, not cleaning, and those flowers. <br><br>Teacher's Day is a separate holiday, but my teacher that year said there's a specific day on one of the New Year holiday days that you're supposed to go pay your respect to your teacher. <br><br>I forgot to mention that the stores the lion goes to have to pay up as well. It's lucky to give away your money! <br><br>PS I HATE nian gao the savory kind! My auntie used to make a sweet fried one that had coconut milk in the dough and was pan fried.smbuchananhttp://eighty8percent.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340609212460153889.post-22319605950774770872011-02-03T15:32:42.000-08:002011-02-03T15:32:42.000-08:001. Yes to the red envolope2. Yes to the lettuce3. ...1. Yes to the red envolope<br>2. Yes to the lettuce<br>3. No to hair washing<br>4. No to coins in dumplings<br>5. No to teachers day<br>6. Yes to new clothes<br><br>Have you heard of getting a hair cut before new years? This is a BIG oneBennoreply@blogger.com