Chinese New Year

This most special holiday for Chinese all over the world is a “moveable feast,” as it occurs on the second new moon after the shortest day of the year (the winter solstice, December 21) and lasts about two weeks. According to the Western calendar, this means the holiday begins sometime in either late January or early February. Tradition holds that homes must be cleaned from top to bottom in preparation for the festivities. On New Year’s Eve, families get together for a banquet, and at this feast fish is the dish of delight, as the Chinese word for “fish” sounds like yu, or “great plenty.” Red is the color of luck and all children receive red envelopes filled with money and bright, shining moon-like coins. Adults write “spring couplets” on red paper; these are short poems that are hung around the doorway to greet the New Year auspiciously. Oranges are placed around the house in bowls and plates and blooming plants adorn the home both indoors and out. All generations of the extended Chinese family, from great-grandmother to the tiniest toddler, stay up late playing games, telling stories, and making wishes for the New Year.

Hong Bao—an Ancient Feng Shui Custom

Essential elements: red envelopes, coins, and paper money. The Chinese call the red envelopes lee sees.

On the actual day of the Chinese New Year, go around to your neighbors, friends, and family with red envelopes containing money. If you are like me, bright, shiny coins are what you can easily afford to give instead of envelopes stuffed with paper money. With each gift, greet folks with Gung Hey Fat Choy, which means “Wishing you prosperity and health."

Give every child two lee sees because happiness comes in pairs. By taking care to provide the children you know with lee sees, you are making sure the next generation has good luck. Business owners also give lee sees to employees, important partners, and associates. When you hand a lee see to anyone you may have a grudge or grievance with, you should let go of the old feeling and refuse to drag the new you down with emotional baggage in the New Year. 

The First New Moon of the Year: Chinese New Year

This most special holiday for Chinese all over the world is a “moveable feast,” as it occurs on the second new moon after the shortest day of the year (the winter solstice, December 21) and lasts about two weeks. According to the Western calendar, this means the holiday begins sometime in either late January or early February. Tradition holds that homes must be cleaned from top to bottom in preparation for the festivities. On New Year’s Eve, families get together for a banquet, and at this feast fish is the dish of delight, as the Chinese word for “fish” sounds like yu, or “great plenty.” Red is the color of luck and all children receive red envelopes filled with money and bright, shining moon-like coins. Adults write “spring couplets” on red paper; these are short poems that are hung around the doorway to greet the New Year auspiciously. Oranges are placed around the house in bowls and plates and blooming plants adorn the home both indoors and out. All generations of the extended Chinese family, from great-grandmother to the tiniest toddler, stay up late playing games, telling stories and making wishes for the New Year. They call this most auspicious time of the year “Hong

Bau,” and apply the ancient and sacred principles of feng shui in a celebration of love and luck. Gather red envelopes, coins and paper money. The Chinese call the red envelopes lee sees.

On the actual day of the Chinese New Year, go around to your neighbors, friends and family with red envelopes containing money. If you are like me, bright, shiny coins are what you can easily afford to give instead of envelopes stuffed with paper money. With each gift, greet folks with Gung Hey Fat Choy, which means “Wishing you prosperity and health.”

Give every child two lee sees, because happiness comes in pairs. By taking care to provide the children you know with lee sees, you are making sure the next generation has good luck. Business owners also give lee sees to employees, important partners and associates. When you hand a lee see to anyone you may have a grudge or grievance with, you should let go of the old feeling and refuse to drag the new you down with emotional baggage in the New Year.

The First New Moon of the Year: Chinese New Year

This most special holiday for Chinese all over the world is a “moveable feast,” as it occurs on the second new moon after the shortest day of the year (the winter solstice, December 21) and lasts about two weeks. According to the Western calendar, this means the holiday begins sometime in either late January or early February. Tradition holds that homes must be cleaned from top to bottom in preparation for the festivities. On New Year’s Eve, families get together for a banquet, and at this feast fish is the dish of delight, as the Chinese word for “fish” sounds like yu, or “great plenty.” Red is the color of luck and all children receive red envelopes filled with money and bright, shining moon-like coins. Adults write “spring couplets” on red paper; these are short poems that are hung around the doorway to greet the New Year auspiciously. Oranges are placed around the house in bowls and plates and blooming plants adorn the home both indoors and out. All generations of the extended Chinese family, from great-grandmother to the tiniest toddler, stay up late playing games, telling stories and making wishes for the New Year. They call this most auspicious time of the year “Hong Bau,” and apply the ancient and sacred principles of feng shui in a celebration of love and luck. Gather red envelopes, coins and paper money. The Chinese call the red envelopes lee sees. 

 

On the actual day of the Chinese New Year, go around to your neighbors, friends and family with red envelopes containing money. If you are like me, bright, shiny coins are what you can easily afford to give instead of envelopes stuffed with paper money. With each gift, greet folks with Gung Hey Fat Choy, which means “Wishing you prosperity and health.” 

Give every child two lee sees, because happiness comes in pairs. By taking care to provide the children you know with lee sees, you are making sure the next generation has good luck. Business owners also give lee sees to employees, important partners and associates. When you hand a lee see to anyone you may have a grudge or grievance with, you should let go of the old feeling and refuse to drag the new you down with emotional baggage in the New Year.

Lunar New Year Soul Tribe Ritual

Gather your favorite people for this most auspicious time of the year:

The new moon is the absolute best time to make big changes and start a new project or to do a deep clean and energetic shift of your home. First, clean your book from top to bottom, wash sheets and towels and rugs and tablecloths. Sweep and wash floors, recycle old newspapers, sort through those piles of paper on your desk, and get rid of things you don't need to keep; file everything else. Gather up toys and games and put them in baskets for easy storage. Any further decluttering or tidying up, go for it Once your entire house is clean and lemony fresh, take the next step of the new moon ritual with a gathering of your fellow pagans.

Ask each guest to bring  food to share along with a small token to bless your house – crystals, flowers, sea shells, candles and other suitable altar offerings. Gather these items:

A blue bowl filled with fresh water

A saucer of sea salt

One white candle and one blue candle

Lemon essential oil and rose essential oil

Sage for smudging and lavender incense

Greet your guests and ask them  to help you by smudging  each room with the salt, sage, candle flame and  sprinkles of water. While incanting:

 By the power of water,
Though the cleansing  breath of air,
With  the purifying heat of fire,
And the grounding energy of earth
We cleanse this space.

As you pass from room to room, anoint each door and windowsill with the oil his prevents anything negative from crossing into the home with this prayer to the goddess:

May the goddess bless this house,
making it sacred and safe,
so that nothing but love and happiness
shall enter through this door.

Finally, once you've gone through the house, ask each of your guests to deposit their blessing token on your altar.. Gather around the  table and dig into the potluck dishes and pour hearty glasses of ale, wine or mead.  Give thanks for the abundance of blessings and enjoy a feast with your tribe!

Clearing the Way for Lunar New Year Energy

Now is the time to make way for positive new energy in your life:

                                  

To clear and purify your space with as much of your own personal energy as possible ,perform a ritual sweeping  with a favorite broom or “besom.”  I use a sweet-smelling cinnamon broom, These are actually made of pine straw coated with divine-smelling cinnamon oil and set aside to dry for three weeks.  Many a grocery store sells them in the fall and holiday season. My favorites are the tiny Trader Joe’s whisk-brooms which are adorable. These make lovely gifts and also altar adornments.  I ornament mine with cleansing crystals by taking a colored silk cord and stringing quartz beads on them or gluing them to the base of the handle.

These gems and crystals are superb for space-clearing and purification:

Amber for positivity and happiness

Blue Lace Agate for serenity and a peaceful home

Coral for wellbeing and good cheer

Jet absorbs bad energy from your environment

Onyx is a guardian stone and protector

Petrified Wood for tranquility and a sense of security

Clear quartz is wonderful for peace of mind and space-clearing

Tiger’s Eye protects from “psychic vampires,” energy-draining situations or people

Turquoise creates calm and relaxation.