cock-a-doodle-doo!!

HAPPY ROOSTER YEAR!

taken from the chinapage

‘happy chinese new year!’

you must have heard (or read) this often, right? now, i wonder, why on earth add the ‘chinese’ there. i mean we all know it is the chinese new year already, so just a ‘happy new year’ will do. i don’t know, you’ll say i’m picky. maybe i am but i find it strange and meaningless to say ‘happy chinese new year’. do we say to our muslim friends ‘selamat hari raya melayu’? certainly not, right. likewise, in this period, we know it is the chinese who celebrate the new year, so we just say ‘happy new year’ will do.

another thing is, we must remember, the correct way to say it is not ‘chinese new year’ but rather ‘lunar new year’. you see, this is because the lunar new year is not celebrated by chinese only but also by vietnamese, taiwanese, koranskoreans, thai and those from mynamar (if not mistaken). so it is kind of wrong to say ‘it is the chinese new year’ but to be technically correct, it should be ‘it is the lunar new year’.

well, uncle yap, owner of beritamalaysia had this to say on this matter.

anyway, since almost all of us here are chinese (malaysian chinese that is) here, it’s ok to say ‘chinese new year’ but i feel NOT ok to wish ‘happy chinese new year’.

ok end of my ‘pickiness’… let’s move on. heh.

to continue reading, please click on ‘jog over for more’.

as i had blog before, i don’t really welcome the CNY. nothing much to crow about (despite the rooster comes crowing in this year). up to now i have not bought a new dress yet. people said must have at least one new dress to greet the CNY. well i guess i will go and buy one tomorrow after work. yes i’m working but only half day. i’ll buy one, then at night need to wear it already for the CNY mass in church. wow. this means it will be very new… only a few hours new.

well, as many are already aware, this will be the year of the viewtru is the one who is obssessed with the year of the cock, not the rooster. hehe.

anyone of you born in the year of the rooster? the years are 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993 and of course 2005. unlike western astrology, chinese astrology if one reveal what animal year s/he was born in, it will reveal her/his age, so it seems that most people are quite reluctant to reveal their chinese animal sign!

those born under the rooster sign are said to be (well among many other astrology readings) the herald, dated 6 feb. fr stephen chin from sarawak explains some chinese beliefs about the rooster. here it is:

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The rooster is the tenty symbolic animal of the terresterial branches. Its various designations like ‘beacon of the night’, ‘the herald of the norm’ generally differs to its crowing which is said to be regular at dawn.

The flesh of a male bird is said to be injurious, a probable reason is that they are used in swearing rituals and sacrifices.

A black boned fowl is called medicinal chicken (‘Yao Chi’). It is prized for making medicinal soup for people suffering from consumption (tuberculosis) and general debility (weakness).

Chinese belief of the rooster.
The rooster is the embodiment of the Yang. It represents the warmth of life of the universe. The rooster is supposed to have the power of changing itself to human form, to inflict good or evil upon human beings.

The Chinese ascribe 5 virtues for the rooster:
1. The crown on his head marks his literary spirit.
2. Its spurs at his feet is a symbol of his warlike disposition.
3. It is courageous for it fights his enemies.
4. It is benevolent, always checking for the hens when he found some food
5. It is faithful for it never fails to lose the hour.

Other beliefs.
a) The red picture of a rooster pasted on the wall of the house is to protect it against fire.
b) At sunrise, the ghost disappear because it is believed, the rooster, by its crowing chases them away. In this belief, a white rooster is placed on the coffin during funeral procession to clear the road of devils.
c) Some say that the white rooster is a ‘divine or spiritual fowl’.
d) The white colour of the rooster is a sign of purity of heart. It is a custom for the bride and groom to eat white sugar rooster at the wedding ceremony.
e) The white rooster is said to be a protection against harmful astral influences and is the only one capable of guiding transient spirits.

Yet some other beliefs.
a) A common pictoral designs of a rooster and hen standing amid artificial rock-work in a garden of peonies symbolises pleasure of country life.
b) A fowl on top of a roof is considered a bad omen.
c) It is very unlucky if there’s thunder while a hen is sitting on its eggs.
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fr stephen also gives a reflection on how christians can celebrate this occasion. it is an excellent piece but more meant for the christians (or those interested) so i’m not going to put it up here. i will not put up the whole article but just that one part where he used the 5 virtues of the rooster in relation to jesus christ.
(ok will post this up tomorrow as forgot to bring back the floppy from office)

UPDATED: ok, here it is:

The Chinese ascribe five virtues to the rooster. This reminds us that Christ is the embodiment of all virtues for all virtues are from God.

a) The crown of thorns on Jesus’ head signifies that he is our Universal King, although the Jews mocked him in such cruel and evil ways. The Holy Spirit of Christ pervades the whole universe and the hearts of all mankind. The Spirit of Christ renews and transforms our heart, mind and soul.

b) The nails on his feet did not keep him a prisoner for long. Through his glorious, powerful and victories resurrection, the ‘warlike Spirit’ of God triumphs over Satan and all evil. What a glorious day for the Lord Jesus and for us. He conquers by the weapon of love!

c) Who is as courageous as God in Jesus? No one that I knew of. Jesus relentlessly fights against his enemies, the devil and all his dirty cohorts (agents). He fights against the evil forces intending to harm us. Let us then, in him, fight the good fight against the devil, our human weaknesses and the world of evil for in Jesus Christ, and with him, we will surely conquer and help others to conquer our common enemy – the devil.

d) Jesus Christ is the embodiment of benevolence. He generously taught us about our Heavenly Father who is so benevolent. Through his deeds, he proved it. Through his divine love in his works, we see so clearly the stamp of God’s love for his people. See how Jesus feeds the crowd of five thousand, not counting the women and the children, with five loaves and two fishes and there were leftovers which filled 12 big baskets. More so, how he feeds us with the Bread of Life in the Holy Eucharist that we participate in (in the celebration of the Holy Mass).

e) Who is more faithful than the Lord Jesus Christ? He remains faithful to the will of his Heavnely Father, even unto death on the cross by carrying out his Heavenly Father’s plan to have all of us, sinners from eternal death and perdition. SO in him, we have the warmth of his supernatural life that is preserved in fidelity to God’s Holy Will. Let us then, imitate the Lord in remaining faithful to God’s Holy Will by keeping God’s commands of love everyday.

May this be one of our special resolutions in the Chinese New Year of the Rooster.