Welcoming the Year of the Pig

"Bring out the tikoy and the dumplings."

Tomorrow, Tuesday, one-fourth of the world’s 7.7 billion people will celebrate the Spring Festival of 2019, welcoming the Year of the Pig, and that includes us Filipinos even as we are a predominantly Catholic country.

In fact, the government has declared Chinese New Year as an official public holiday. So, as we are deep into this celebration of Chinese New Year, let us discuss how this major event is observed, the myths and the taboos which go with the festivity.

First, Chinese New Year date changes each year. But it always falls between January 21 and February 20, determined by the Chinese lunar calendar. As stated above, Chinese New Year 2019 is on Tuesday February 5. 

Every Chinese New Year starts a new animal’s zodiac year.

There are 12 Chinese zodiac animals. In order, the 12 animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Your zodiac animal is decided by your birth year. 2019 is a year of the Pig. 2019 is a Year of the Pig according to the Chinese zodiac, and it’s an Earth Pig year. Years of the Pig include 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, and 2031. In Chinese astrology, each year belongs to a Chinese zodiac animal according to the 12-year cycle.

The Pig occupies the twelfth position in the Chinese zodiac after the Dog, and before the Rat.

If you were born in a Pig year, you are known as a Pig (or ‘belonging to the Pig’) in China. 

Zodiac years are by the Chinese calendar.

Pigs are diligent, compassionate, and generous. They have great concentration: once they set a goal, they will devote all their energy to achieving it. Though Pigs rarely seek help from others, they will not refuse to give others a hand. Pigs never suspect trickery, so they are easily fooled.

General speaking, Pigs are relatively calm when facing trouble. No matter how difficult the problems are Pigs encounter, they can handle things properly and carefully. They have a great sense of responsibility to finish what they are engaged in.

The festival is celebrated for 16 days until the Lantern Festival.

On the evening of 15th day of the first lunar month (February 19, 2019), on the night of the full moon, families gather for dinner and go out and see fireworks and light lanterns. Lanterns are put up for decoration, let loose to fly, and floated in rivers.

Why the fireworks? Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a monster named Nián. Nian is said to live at the bottom of the sea and comes up once a year to feast on animals and humans. On this day, the villagers would all escape into the mountains.

One year, a beggar came to seek shelter, but everyone was hurrying away. Only an old woman took him in and he promised to chase Nian away. He busied himself with decorating the homes.

At midnight, Nian lumbered in but stopped short when it saw the red paper on the doors. As it roared in anger, firecrackers suddenly sounded and it trembled in fear. When it saw the beggar, dressed in red, laughing at it, it could only run away.

The villagers came back the next day and were pleasantly surprised that the homes were all still standing. They realized that loud noises and the color red were Nian’s kryptonite.

This is why, on New Year’s Eve, families eat dinner in their homes fortified by red decorations. At midnight, firecrackers are sounded. In addition, people will wear new and festive red clothing to celebrate.

And on this day, billions of red envelopes will be exchanged.

Chinese people love the color red. Giving red envelopes, called “hong bao,” is a way to send good wishes and luck (as well as money). 

New Year’s bonus.

Again, this has its origin. According to legends, there used to be an evil spirit named Sui. It would appear on New Year’s Eve and pat the heads of sleeping children three times. The children would end up with a fever. Even if they recovered from the fever, they’d never be the same again.

One couple entertained their child with some coins at night. When he fell asleep, they placed the coins on red paper and left it by the pillow. When Sui came, the coins flashed and frightened it away. From then on, parents would give children money wrapped in red paper every New Year’s Eve. Read our full article on red pockets to learn more about their origin, history and how much to put in one.

And while Chinese maintains their beliefs on things which would bring luck, they also believe on things which would the opposite. 

Washing, sweeping, or taking out the garbage are not allowed.

House-cleaning must be done before Chinese New Year. During the Chinese New Year period, there are many superstitions.

Washing hair or clothes is not allowed on the first day of the lunar year because it is seen as “washing one’s fortune away” at the beginning of the year. Sweeping up and taking out the garbage symbolize removing the good luck from the house, so people don’t do that either.

Being a major event in China, this festival causes the world’s largest annual migration as for Chinese people, the most important part of the Chinese Spring Festival is to enjoy a reunion dinner with their families on New Year’s Eve, even if they have to travel long distances.

And in connection with this year’s festivities, the Palace Museum in Beijing unveiled a grand exhibition celebrating the Spring Festival starting today up to April 7 this year.

Presenting the audience with the royal traditions of celebrating the Spring Festival during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), a total of 885 cultural relics are used in the exhibition to create lively images of an imperial Spring Festival, the largest number in a single exhibition in the museum’s history.

So, better bring out the tikoy and the dumplings and let’s all welcome the Year of the Pig.