The Origins of Chinese New Year

年俗的由来 (The Origins of Chinese New Year)

陈月海上尉 (Captain Tan Guat Hai)

过年是中国文化最富有传统性和民族性的节庆，也是具有强调亲族联系、调节人际关系、整合社群、促进经济和弘扬家庭伦理的功能。

Chinese New Year is the predominant annual festival that celebrates the heritage and ethnicity of the Chinese culture. Functionally, it also serves to emphasize family and interpersonal relationships, facilitate social cohesion, and promote economic and ethical moral values.

年的原意为“谷熟”，过年与农家收成有着密切的关系，是为了庆祝五谷丰收（大有年），也是中国人庆祝新年的根源。“有年”就是谷熟有收成，“大有年”指大丰收之意。 自古以来中国就是一个农业国家，汉族最初在中原地区发展，冬天气候严寒，户外工作几乎是不可能的。因此就在寒冷的冬季里举行庆祝丰收及答谢神祖的活动。农家在秋夏耕耘与秋季收成后，就过休闲的生活，于是就有了种种的庆祝仪式。

The word ‘nian’ (year), in its original context, means ‘’the grains are ripe”. Crossing the “nian” was closely correlated with the peasants’ harvest, meaning celebrating the harvest of five grains (rice, two kinds of millet, wheat and beans), which is the root of new year celebration for the Chinese. Since ancient times, China has been an agricultural country. The Han race started its development in the central region (south of Yellow River). Since the winter climate there is severe, outdoor work was almost impossible. Hence the Hans used the time to celebrate their abundant harvest and to express gratitude to their ancestor gods. After the peasants had labored from spring to summer and harvested in the autumn, they chose to lead a leisurely life in winter with various celebration ceremonies.

到了汉代初期（公元前二百零二年），由于社会条件成熟以及历法的改订，正月为岁首成为定下来的制度，年俗就逐渐的定型了。经过历年及朝代的洗礼，庆祝的仪式、文化、习俗也逐渐的丰富起来。

At the beginning of the Han Dynasty (A.D.202), as society became more affluent and following the revision of the calendar system, the Lunar first month became the official month to begin a new year. The culture of New Year was gradually set in place. Over the years, with the change of dynasties, the celebration ceremonies, culture and traditions gradually became richer.

明朝及清朝前期随着中国人下南洋、谋生、结婚及最后定居，也将其文化发扬光大，年俗也随着本土的文化而改变，就有了属于我们自己南洋本土文化及习俗的农历新年。捞鱼生就是南洋本土文化的最佳例子，有「風生水起」及「越撈越旺」的意頭。新加坡的华族同胞拿桔子跟亲友拜年，再彼此交换、彼此祝福，也是一个富有意义的举动，彼此祝贺“吉祥如意”、“大吉大利”之意。

During the Ming dynasty, as well as at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the Chinese began to migrate to South East Asia to work, marry and settle down, propagating the Chinese culture there. The New Year tradition also evolved with the infusion of local culture, and over time the Nanyang (South Asian) Chinese cultivated their own version of the Lunar New Year that is rich in local culture and traditions. One of the best examples is the eating of “yusheng”, which has the meaning of ushering in prosperity and blessings of wealth (as we toss the yusheng). During the Lunar new year, Singaporean Chinese greet one another with mandarin oranges, with the exchange of oranges symbolizing an exchange of blessings. This is a meaningful gesture of wishing one another good luck, happiness and fortune.

新马两地的本土年俗文化承载了华人五千年文化历史背景，也融入许多的本土习俗，也随着时代的变迁，新年的习俗也逐渐有被淡化的危机。虽然如此本地的新年习俗基本上依然还被保留起来，如大扫除、放鞭炮、派红包（古称压岁钱）、年夜饭（团圆饭）、祭祖、送礼、拜年等。

The Singaporean and Malaysian local Chinese New Year custom have inherited five thousand years of China culture and historical background, mingled with a variety of local customs. Over the years, the Chinese New Year custom has faced the danger of losing its rich traditions. Even so, our local new year custom is still fundamentally being preserved, and traditional activities such as spring cleaning, the lighting of firecrackers, handing out red packets, family reunion dinner, ancestral worship, gifts, visitation etc. are still being practiced today.

从年俗的根源和基督徒庆祝新年并没有冲突，与我们的信仰是没有背道而驰的，只是华人在农历新年期间经常与其他神明扯上关系及膜拜，只要我们不混淆什么是文化，什么是习俗和信仰，而不陷入宗教膜拜和迷信里，那过年就不会影响我们的信仰。在大年初一，华族同胞都会在家祭祖或到庙里膜拜，而我们基督徒也可以在同一天上教堂敬拜上帝，然后在自家举行追思先祖礼拜，接着一起吃团圆饭，是一个更好不过的基督徒具体的见证。

The origin of the Chinese New Year does not conflict with Christian faith and practice. The only caution is the tendency of the Chinese often mixing it with the worshiping of other gods. As long as we do not confuse culture or custom with religious beliefs, and do not get trapped blindly into religious worship and superstition, our faith will not be influenced by the New Year celebration. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, it is a tradition to worship our ancestors either at home or in the temple. As Christians, it will be a powerful Christian testimony if we can likewise take this day to worship God, and thereafter remember our loved ones (through memorial services), followed by having family reunion meals.

农历新年强调的是亲族联系、调节人际关系、整合社群、促进经济和弘扬家庭伦理，而我们更应该透过这个节庆，见证，也与他人分享神的爱，而能荣神益人。

The Chinese New Year emphasizes bonding with family and relatives, as well as interpersonal relationships, social cohesion, and the promotion of economic and ethical/moral values. It behooves us to use this festival opportunistically to share God’s love with others, thereby glorifying God and edifying men.