Challenge: Six tough CNY customs to follow
Don't wear black - easy. Don't lend money - with glee and delight. Don't clean the house - nailed it, didn't even lift a finger.
Some CNY customs are a joy to observe, but others aren't quite so easy to master. How will you fare keeping these rules?
#1 Don't use bad words
Easy rule to follow for some, downright impossible for others. It’s believed that whatever expletives you utter on the first day of CNY will doggedly turn up to plague you throughout the rest of the year. The S-word particularly comes to mind as being unwelcome. Same belief applies to any negative thing you talk about - ghost stories, your ingrown toenail, losing at mahjong the night before…
The word ‘die’ is especially frowned upon. By extension, the number four in Chinese sounds like ‘die’, so don’t say that either. The words ‘die lah’ (or its brothers ‘sei loh’ and ‘mati lah’) is how Malaysians typically respond to any given situation, so all the best keeping this rule.
#2 Play with firecrackers
Ancient folklore tells of a terrible half-dragon, half-lion behemoth that would emerge yearly to wreak unimaginable havoc on hapless locals. After many years of enduring the monster’s inconvenient antics, they discovered it abhorred noisy bright lights, hence the birth of firecrackers. The deafening cacophony is also an auspicious way to send out the old year and usher in the new.
Despite several appeals, including a concerted effort by over 1,000 Chinese guilds and associations’ two years back, Malaysia has maintained its ban on firecrackers. So if you crave something more exciting than Happy Booms and Pop-pops, you’re welcome to try your luck writing to the Home Ministry for an exemption.
#3 Don't cry, or let anyone cry
If you cry on new year’s day, you’ll cry all through the year. Ouch, sounds painful but it shouldn’t be too hard to keep this rule, yes? Maybe not. Some kids take it as a free pass to unleash their inner devils, since they have no fear of retribution.
So every time the little rascals hurl Pop-pops at your bare feet scaring the bejesus out of you, tuck your twitchy palm back into your pockets, refrain from cursing (refer rule #1) and pet them on the head.
#4 Consult an almanac before heading out
To get the very best of the new year, some people consult a Chinese almanac to find out the exact best time they should leave the house, and which direction they should head.
First up, most people have no idea where to get an almanac, and if they did procure one, would need help deciphering it. If you get that bit sorted, great - good luck reconciling your almanac-inspired timetable and route with your actual plans for the day.
#5 Make sure the first words you hear are positive
The first words you hear on the first day are indicative of the kind of year you have ahead.
Chances are you’ll wake up to an atmosphere of general grumpiness after indulging your inner glutton the night before, insomnia from fireworks (or not, depending on how law abiding your neighbours are - see rule #2) and testy kids squeezed into starchy new clothes (more on this in rule #6).
So if you’re serious about this one, best to hire a group of actors to stand by your bedside, ready to beam at you and heap you with compliments as soon as your eyelids flutter open.
#6 Pay all your debts
They say if you start your year in the red, you’ll finish it the same way.
It’s a hard rule to keep, especially considering that A) Christmas just passed B) We’re expected to deck the whole family out in new clothes, and kids nowadays know their Kuchi from their Gucchi, and C) Married folk have to dole out ang pow and kids look at you funny if they get anything less than a red note.
Then what about mortgages, car loans, student loans? Die loh. Oops, broke #1.
