Can a christian join in Chinese new year celebrations?
Chinese New Year is also known as Chun jie (spring season). It is really a celebration of a new year after the dark and hard long winter. Spring represents the return of life and it is a joyous occasion for many in an agricultural society. Started in about 2000 BC in the Han Dynasty which later became a regular feature in the Chinese Calendar. As a Christian (me too), we need to be aware of the cultural elements in the tradition practiced and the religious element present (as with all mankind, religion is infused into the practice). The stories of the origin of Chinese New Year was based not upon religious stories, but on folklore. Thus, there’s no objection to the practice of giving and receiving of Hong Bao, the decoration of poetic and calligraphic words which expresses our wish for a better year, and color of joy in red (you could say the blood of Christ is red too), but we do not subscribed to the superstitious beliefs of not sweeping on the first three days (in case we sweep away
