'YEAR OF THE OX'
Celebrating Chinese New Year
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Chinese New Year is, for us Honoluluans, one of those events that have come to be as much a part of our celebratory fabric as any other annual festivity.
Whether we engage in the celebration completely — with family gatherings, strict adherence to traditions and the belief that the party isn't only about having fun, but also about spirituality — or whether we just watch a lion dance or two from the sidewalk, there's no denying that Chinese New Year is one of our things.
And it's definitely Melissa Lum's thing.
Lum, a 22-year-old waitress, said she and her family spend more time and money on celebrating Chinese New Year, which this year falls on Monday, than they do on every other holiday combined.
"In our family, the biggest party of the year is Chinese New Year," Lum said. "We pull out all the stops, and we always have for as long as I can remember. We do it all. If it's related to some Chinese tradition, no matter how obscure, we do it. And it's super, super fun. It's a lot of work, but it's really fun."
Like, how fun? On a scale from one to 10?
"On a scale from one to 10?" Lum doesn't even hesitate for a second before saying: "It's definitely a 20."
So we got to thinking. Maybe this year it's time to join the party — really join the party — instead of watching it from a doorway on Maunakea Street. This year, how about doing Chinese New Year Lum-family style? Here's how:
PREPARE YOURSELF
The Chinese New Year celebration, like regular New Year's, starts on the eve, which is Sunday. Spend today and tomorrow preparing for the New Year's Eve festivities by doing the following:
1. Clean house. Get rid of everything that is associated with the old year.
2. Pay your debts. (OK, this might be difficult for most of us to achieve, but Lum said she honors this tradition by taking stock of her current financial situation and taking practical steps — like making a budget or pledging to up her savings — to make sure she doesn't spend her money unwisely in the new year.)
3. Make amends. Resolve any differences with family members, friends, neighbors and business associates.
4. Go shopping. Buy the following:
5. Prepare the food. Do all the cutting, slicing and dicing now, because it's considered bad luck to cut anything on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
ON CHINESE NEW YEAR'S EVE, SUNDAY
1. Have a nice family dinner.
2. Pay respects to your family ancestors.
3. At midnight, open the doors and windows to symbolize letting go of the old year.
ON CHINESE NEW YEAR'S DAY, MONDAY
1. Decorate your home with symbols of good fortune, such as anything red or orange (the colors symbolize happiness and wealth), fruits (oranges and tangerines that symbolize good health and a long life), a round tray of candy (the candy symbolizes sweetness of life, the round tray symbolizes togetherness) and flowers (if flowers bloom on New Year's Day, it is believed that the coming year will be prosperous).
2. Eat good-luck foods like jai (for good fortune), noodles (for longevity) and whole fish and chicken (for prosperity; presenting them with the head, tail and feet intact represents completeness.)
DO'S AND DON'T'S ON CHINESE NEW YEAR'S DAY
The Lum family's list of rules:
DO wear brand new clothes, and if the clothes are red, all the better. Children should wear new clothes and new shoes.
DO give two li see to each child. Don't just give one envelope — it is believed that happiness comes in twos. The Lums also give the envelopes to colleagues and friends.
DO greet each other with "Kung hee fat choy," which means that you wish each other prosperity and wealth.
DON'T wash your hair.
DON'T sweep the floor.
DON'T greet people who are in mourning.
DON'T drop your chopsticks.
DON'T say the number "four," which is a Chinese homonym for "death," or talk about death at all.
DON'T borrow or lend money.
THE ANATOMY OF AN OX
This one's for you, ox people (you know who you are — and if you don't, keep reading). This is your year, or so says the Chinese zodiac, so move aside rats, and make room for your bovine counterparts. And if you don't really know what it all means, let us break it down for you.
BEFORE THERE WAS A 'YEAR OF THE OX'
First, a little Chinese Zodiac history. Here's how it works, in a nutshell: The Chinese Zodiac is based on a 12-year cycle. Each year of the cycle is named for one of the 12 animals, that, according to legend, were smart enough, strong enough, wise enough or clever enough to show up for a sort of imperial roll call where the animals of the zodiac were to be selected. The following animals showed up, in this order: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog, boar.
Each animal exhibits its own personality and characteristics, which are said to be the factors that determine the inherent human traits that are present in each of us. In the west we use star signs (Libra, Virgo, Capricorn, etc.), in China they use animals. Both systems — and the signs or animals that are assigned to their human counterparts — are based on birth dates.
There's more to the Chinese zodiac than just the 12 years and the corresponding animals, but it's all too complicated to get into here without boring the horoscope out of you, so we'll stop now. Just know this: 2009 is the Year of the Ox.
WHEN AN OX IS BORN
If you were born in one the following years, you're an ox:
BEHAVIORAL TENDENCIES
The ox stands for prosperity. But wait. Before you get all excited about being destined to be rich, there's more. It's prosperity through fortitude and hard work. So, yeah, all that work you do? That's meant to be. Oh well. You can't win them all, right?
Other traits of an ox include:
THE COMPATIBILITY FACTOR
If you're an ox, you need a rooster.
According to the Chinese zodiac, the most compatible sign for an ox is the colorful rooster.
The mouse and the snake are also good for the ox because their nurturing tendencies appeal to the hard-working pillar of stoic strength (think alpha male and Donna Reed).
The dragon, rabbit and horse won't have a problem just hanging with the ox, but they'll never be tight.
The dog finds the ox BO-ring, and the ram and the tiger can't deal with the ox's need to be in charge.
