CNY practises in CNY mass

CHINESE PRACTICES IN LITURGY AT CHINESE NEW YEAR MASS IN A CATHOLIC CHURCH

Introduction: In a multi-racial and mult-religious country like Malaysia, there always seems to be a problem in distinguishing between that which is customary or cultural and that which is religious. Our religious practices, customs and cultures have crossed paths quite often in our daily lives. This is an attempt to lay to rest certain ambiguities or doubts concerning Chinese cultural practices during the Chinese Lunar New Year.

1. Joss-sticks.
Joss-sticks are actually incense made in the traditional Chinese style. Joss-sticks by themselves are not ‘religious’ in any way. It is incense, made into the form of a stick, to be burnt so as to give out a fragrant smell that is conducive for both worship and offering. IN the West, incense has always been in the form of powdered or ‘pounded form’. This powdered incense is then put onto hot charcoal and consequently, the smoke-form is the compacting of the powdered incense into a paste and then ‘wrapped’ round a stick, the jostt-stick is then lit or burnt to give off the fragrance. There are also other forms of incense, for example, the spiral form which is also similar to mosquito coil. The Chinese description of incense is ‘sweet-smelling’ or ‘heong’ and it can come in many forms. The East always have the rich tradition (including the Easter Churches) of using incense in worship.

2. Honouring of Ancestors
This is certainly NOT the worshipping of ancestors. The Rite of honouring ancestors is deeply ingrained in the lives of the Chinese as it is the continuation of the virtue of Filial Piety. There are few occasions whereby the Chinese people remember and give respect to their ancestors. This recalling is actualised in rituals, especially during special and auspicious days and in these special rites, offerings and respect are given to departed ancestors. We can conclude that the act of offering food and other relevant things in the rite of the honouring ancestors to our Roman Catholic practice of remembering our beloved departed brothers and sisters and in the offering of flowers and the burning of candles for our dearly departed ones. “The Liturgical ceremony of bowing in respect to the photographes or tablets of our ancestors is both reasonable as well as persmissible.” (Pope Pius XII, 1939)

3. Offerings of Food and Cakes
The offering of food and cakes (new year cakes) made to ancestors is done not so much for them to eat or consume them. It is done with the intention of recalling the happy times that both the living and the deceased shared together, when the ancestors were still alive. Chinese tradition places important emphasis on meals; hence whenever food is ‘offered’ to ancestors or at graves (Feast of Ching Ming), the intention is to provide an occasion to have a ‘meal’ together with the deceased. This is recalling of the many meals which have been shared with those who have since passed away. The food is usually taken back for consumption in the house. Thus, the food is indeed not offered to idols or spirits.

4. Offerings of Fruits
The offering of fruits is also based on the same principles of recalling good times with those who have passed away. There is also the element of linguastic harmony in relation to the names of the fruits offered, especially in the Cantonese dialect. For example, the Mandarin oranges (kum) means gold, pineapple (wang li) denotes the coming of prosperity, orange lim (kat) means good luck, sugar cane (kam chear) denotes good family or fertility, pomeloes (por luk) means wholeness of prosperity. Fruits do not carry any religious significance as well.

5. Burning of Red Candles.
The burning of red candles is also an ancient practice of the Chinese. However, the preferred colour chosen by the Chinese is red, which symbolises joy, goodness and prosperity. The colour of the candles does not signify anything religious. It is just the culture of the Chinese that candles should not be white as this colour symbolises death or misfortune.