Chinese Spring Festival and the Color Red
The color red is identified by various labels. Whether you call it crimson, vermillion, ruby, claret or cherry, a visual immediately comes to mind. This primary color is associated with the power of “red-hot” lava spewing from an erupting volcano or the gleeful giggles of the furry “Tickle-Me Elmo” toy. Sadly, too, red recalls the blood of war while simultaneously describing a boisterous and rollicking evening of celebration in the expression, “paint the town red.” Writers use shades of red to represent power and happiness: a shy and self-conscious maiden’s cheeks may blush in hues of pink when she’s complimented; a reddish flush to the face from rising blood pressure is noted when angry tempers flare; the celebrity knows he’s “arrived” when he is greeted by a red carpet to cushion his steps.
Red is not shy; it commands attention. The Chinese people regard red as a symbol of strength, joy and good fortune. In the national flag, red is meant to illustrate strength. Red costumes and decorations appear in weddings and festivals celebrating joyous events. Therefore, it plays a highly significant role in theChinese Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year. The major festival is celebrated in January, in ways similar to the Christian observance of Christmas with rituals and gifts.
As in other cultures, acknowledging the start of a new year provides the opportunity to clear away the disappointments of the previous year and sustain the hope that the future will be filled with happiness and good fortune. In anticipation of the festival, families clean house thoroughly, provide new clothes for their children and accumulate enough food to last throughout the period. They decorate their homes with red lanterns to chase away evil spirits and pastered paper scrollswith poetic messages on their door panels or gates, and families set out to visit relatives and extend their good wishes. Money folded into red paper packets are popular gifts. Family reunions with special foods are most important on New Year’s Eve, and midnight fireworks displays are spectacular.
The Spring Festival lasts for 15 days; then festivities continue on with the Lantern Festival.Red is everywherein the colorful dragon parades and public events in Chinese communities throughout the world. Streets are decorated with the cheerful glow of red lanterns and banners display intricately cut red paper motifs. A single red rope tied into the Chinese Knot, represents the circle of life and is a popular decoration, much as other cultures might display circular wreaths made from fresh greenery. In northern China, street vendors selling toffee fruits are popular with young and old. These are candied red fruits, such as crabapples, haws or grapes on a stick.
The active Asian community in California attracts large crowds to its annualdragon paradeand other events sponsored by the business community where visitors can learn more about the significance of the color red in Chinese art and cultural artifacts that make this meaningful celebration so interesting.
