The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, has a long history in the Philippines, dating back to the time when the Philippines was a Spanish colony and Chinese traders began to settle in the country. The Chinese community in the Philippines celebrated the Chinese New Year as a way to preserve their cultural traditions and bond with other members of the community by spending time together at the dinner table, giving Ang Pao, and more.
Ang Pao, And How The Chinese New Year Is Celebrated In The Philippines
During the Spanish colonial period, the Chinese community in the Philippines faced discrimination and persecution. The celebrations of the Chinese New Year were often suppressed by the Spanish authorities, but the Chinese community persisted in secretly celebrating the festival.
After the Philippines became a US colony, Chinese New Year celebrations became more open but were still met with resistance from some sectors of society. Today, the Chinese New Year is celebrated widely in the Philippines, with lion and dragon dances, fireworks, and other traditional Chinese customs and practices. It is celebrated by both the Chinese community and non-Chinese Filipinos alike, as a way to honor and celebrate the country’s cultural heritage.
The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is celebrated with a variety of customs and traditions. Some common ways to celebrate include:
1) Cleaning the house. Before the new year arrives, many people will clean their homes in order to sweep away bad luck and make room for good luck.
2) Decorations. Red decorations, lanterns, and banners are often used to decorate homes, streets, and public spaces.
3) New Year’s Eve dinner. Families will gather for a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve, where traditional foods such as dumplings, fish, and glutinous rice cakes are served.
4) Red envelopes. Adults will give red envelopes filled with money as gifts to children and unmarried adults.
5) Lion and dragon dances. The lion and dragon dances are performed to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck and prosperity.
6) Fireworks. Fireworks are set off at midnight on New Year’s Eve to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.
7) Visiting relatives and friends. Many people will visit their relatives and friends, especially older family members, during the Chinese New Year to exchange greetings and gifts.
8) Staying up late. It’s a custom to stay up late on New Year’s Eve to welcome the new year.
It’s worth noting that these customs may vary depending on the region and family traditions.
Ang Pao, also known as red envelopes or hongbao, is a traditional Chinese gift given during the Chinese New Year and other special occasions such as weddings and births. The red envelopes are usually filled with money and are given to children and unmarried adults as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. The red color of the envelope is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.
The Ang Pao is a gift of money that is given to children, friends, relatives, and the less fortunate. It is a way to show love and appreciation to the recipients. It is also a way of wishing them a prosperous year ahead. It is worth noting that in some cases, the Ang Pao may also be used to give money as gifts to express gratitude or congratulations, such as when a child does well in school or a friend gets a new job.
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Nowadays, Chinese New Year is widely celebrated in the Philippines, and the Chinese-Filipino community will celebrate it with parades, dragon and lion dances, cultural shows, and fireworks displays to welcome the new year. The celebration is not limited to the Chinese-Filipino community; many non-Chinese Filipinos also participate in it, making it a national celebration.