Chinatown
is very busy again. You can
see a lot of people carrying with them some red boxes which is Tikoy, different
variety of fruits (such as quiat-quiat and small pineapples), and even some
auspicious charms. This is the time of the year in which the whole town
celebrates the coming of the Chinese New Year as based on the Lunar Calendar.
The clattering sound of the musical instruments fills up the
air. This can only mean one thing – there is an ongoing Lion Dance or Dragon
Dance. Other sounds include the continuous honking of vehicles, the booming of
fireworks and fire crackers, and the sound of busy Chinese people greeting each
other KUNG HEI FAT CHOI.
Last night, I saw the very beautiful fireworks from 4th
floor of the tenement where I reside with my family. The fireworks were
breath-taking. I don’t have to go else-where just to watch at those wonderful
displays. I can actually watch the fireworks display right here at home. I sat
on the elevated portion of the apartment corridors and gazed at the lovely view
before me. While being captivated by the magnificence of the said view, I
thought that something is missing (LOL). Watching fireworks display is a
colossal thing for me. It would be great if I have some special people here
with me. Never mind. Do I have some special people here? End of discussion.
Red is the most prominent color for this special occasion.
In fact, I happen to be wearing a red blouse right now. One funny thing is that
this is a part of a tradition. I suddenly asked myself, “Do I follow traditions
and beliefs?” Of course, there isn’t any harm if you swing with the traditions
and beliefs or not. Wearing something red right now is a haphazard matter. When
I opened my cabinet, I was amazed to find out that I have plenty of red
clothes. Geez, how come I don’t even wear them?
Speaking of traditions and beliefs in accordance with this
event, Feng Shui experts are abounding. Earlier this day, I was reading the
newspaper which my sister brought last night. In this newspaper something about
the Year of the Earth Rat is included. I thought that it would be really nice to
read it so I gave it a shot. While reading various articles related to this
year, I found out that the Year of the Earth Rat is not really great for those
people who were born under the Year of the Horse (1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954,
1966, 1978, 1990, and 2002). As a matter of fact, I also found out some
“forecasts” about those who were born in the Year of the Horse. Here are the
following forecasts:
February: Expect more than the usual amount of hostility
this month. Practice your communication skills to smooth misunderstandings and
brush up on your conflict-handling skills.
March: Give importance to your health this month. It would
be a good idea to make sure that you have a regular doctor. A physical checkup
would not hurt either.
April: If you feel that your life has been stuck in a very
boring routine lately, this may be the month to end that. Changes will abound
in the various aspects of your life and this is the time to start something
new.
May: You may be on the path of gaining wealth. However, you
should be on guard against severe misfortune.
June: In the work place, you may find your work being
recognized and well compensated for. I f you are in business, the sales figures
may look good and it is time to take risks.
July: Be on guard against violence and remove yourself from
threatening situations. It may be wise to take extra precautions against
burglary.
August: You may find yourself advancing in certain aspects
of your life thanks to helpful people in your life. If you are in a new field
and wish to learn more, it would be wise to find a mentor.
September: You will need to stay strong this month. Disaster
and misfortunes such as loss lurk around. Be very cautious with the steps that
you take and do not court danger.
October: Romance is in the air. If you have been hurt in the
past and have closed yourself to others waiting to protect your heart, now may
be the time to reconsider that and allow love to come in.
November: If you are feeling grumpy and argumentative, try
not to take it out on other people. Be careful not to lose your temper easily.
Realize that you cannot always have your way all the time and have to give in
some times.
December: You are more vulnerable to sickness and mishaps
this month. December may be full of festivities but take care not to
overindulge and try to squeeze in enough rest and exercise.
*source: Commuter Express (It’s free ^_<).
I find jollity in my forecast, especially the one in
October. Romance is in the air? Oh come on! I can recall that the horoscope
yesterday for Scorpios says that something good will happen in my love life and
that there will be a surprise (LOL or even LMAO). Please, romance never entered
fully in my life. Enough of this hilarity.
As I continue to read more about other related articles in
the newspaper, there are also some counters against the misfortunes that may
possibly befall among us. These are what experts call “Charms”. Charming isn’t
it? There’s the Luck 8 Charms used for turning bad luck into good luck. It is
also suitable in gambling luck. Sorry, I don’t gamble (Mah Jong anyone?).
Another one is the Five Bats Dzi Garnet Charm. The bat is an emblem of
happiness and longevity. The five bats together represents the five blessings
of old age, wealth, health, love of virtue, and a natural death. Do I really
have to obtain such charms to combat misfortune?
In addition, I also found a list of the things to eat for
the Chinese New Year. Some are as follows:
Nuts: Symbol of growth in luck.
Lettuce: Symbolizes rising fortune.
Long Noodles: Long life (DON’T CUT THE NOODLES!)
Fish: Abundance
Prawns: Happiness
Abalone: Promise of wealth and abundance
Oyster: Good fortune in all things
Candies, Cakes, Chocolates, and Biscuits: Persuasive speech
power.
Tikoy: Unity in the family and harmony in relationships
(Stick together!)
*source: Commuter Express (It’s free ^_<).
I also found some tips on how to jump-start the New Year! Oh
really? It’s not really bad if I follow or disobey these traditions and
beliefs. In fact, I ate nuts just to try out what will happen. I believe that
these principles are just random stuffs and incidental. Although there had been
some testimonials which prove the effectiveness of following these principles,
I believe that it is yet to be proven. This thing will only face intrigues and
interrogations in Theology. Prepare for a long discussion…
Somehow, it seems like this New Year is a real New Year than
January 1st. Yeah. It’s quite lonely either. I mean, I wanted to
enjoy this time so much. However, I can’t. Is it the negative forces? Do I need
to consult a Feng Shui expert? How exasperating!
Overall, it is still quite early for me to proclaim that
this year will end up in rubbish. Should I even say that I laugh at horoscopes?
They’re not really satisfying. It will never be enough to suffice the future.
God is still the one whom we should put our trust on.
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