With the impending advent of the Lunar New Year, I cannot help but wonder how the custom seems to be devolving over the years. There is just less hype -- likely the signs of aging.
Rants aside, I always believed that ancient traditional customs and folk lore encode a practical meaning. Legend has it that 年 is a beast that comes and devour people, only to be chased away one day by loud noise and the color red by an angry mob of villagers. Since then they liven up the village every year with noise and red banners so that 年 would not return. Coincidentally, 年 is supposed to strike in Spring.
So what would 年 the beast encode? Here is my hypothesis:
The Seasons in ancient times will be the most accurate clock available to man. The coming of Spring signals the passing of a year, reminding everyone that they are a year older and likely to be closer to death soon. Furthermore, Winter is a time of depression, with many dying from communal diseases as they huddle together in the cold. However Spring is an important season on the agricultural calendar. It just would not be right for everyone to be sulking instead of planning for future survival. The wise man and women of the village or some smarty decided that the depression must go and the joy of life must be instilled in the people before they are all wiped out. Thus, the loud noise and bright color red (do they have brighter colors then?) to drive away 年 the beast -- that is actually depression.
END
To everyone, have a Happy Lunar New Year and may you be ever more prosperous!
Rants aside, I always believed that ancient traditional customs and folk lore encode a practical meaning. Legend has it that 年 is a beast that comes and devour people, only to be chased away one day by loud noise and the color red by an angry mob of villagers. Since then they liven up the village every year with noise and red banners so that 年 would not return. Coincidentally, 年 is supposed to strike in Spring.
So what would 年 the beast encode? Here is my hypothesis:
The Seasons in ancient times will be the most accurate clock available to man. The coming of Spring signals the passing of a year, reminding everyone that they are a year older and likely to be closer to death soon. Furthermore, Winter is a time of depression, with many dying from communal diseases as they huddle together in the cold. However Spring is an important season on the agricultural calendar. It just would not be right for everyone to be sulking instead of planning for future survival. The wise man and women of the village or some smarty decided that the depression must go and the joy of life must be instilled in the people before they are all wiped out. Thus, the loud noise and bright color red (do they have brighter colors then?) to drive away 年 the beast -- that is actually depression.
END
To everyone, have a Happy Lunar New Year and may you be ever more prosperous!
No comments:
Post a Comment