THE ORIGINS OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR ?

There are many similarities between the Jewish Passover and the Chinese New Year celebration. In ancient China there was said to be a terrible monster, "Nien", (meaning 'year'), which came out and roamed all over China just before the New Year, devouring anyone it saw, but disappearing after midnight on New Year's Eve. The New Year was ushered in with firecrackers which lifted the peoples spirits, because the firecrackers supposedly drove the devils away.
We do not usually think of Chinese and Jewish cultures as having much in common, but in the celebrating of the New Year, the Chinese Lunar New Year and the biblical Passover share some striking similarities.


1) Eating New Year Cake
A visitor in any Chinese home during the holiday season would be given a piece of New Year cake. The cake is made of unleavened rice flour. The texture is very solid, and the cake keeps for long periods. In Exodus 12 : 8, God told the Jewish people to eat unleavened bread during the Passover days. "And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread;"

2) Eating Bitter Herbs
In China the mustard plant is the vegetable always served with the New Year feast. It is called "Long Year Vegetable". A bitter herb, it is nonetheless thought to ensure a long life to those that eat it. Along with unleavened bread, the Jews were instructed to eat bitter Herb's. In Exodus chapter 12 and verse 8, "And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter Herb's they shall eat it."


4) Days of Rest
During the Chinese New Year festival, no cutting implement such as a knife or scissors may be used in the house. All food preparation is done during the days before thee holiday. Sweeping or removing dust and garbage is absolutely forbidden, because all that falls on the floor is to sweep out good luck. All shops and offices are closed for five to seven days.
Exodus 12:16 says "And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you."


5) Family Reunion
All Chinese family members who live away from their native towns must go home at New Year's. The whole family assembles for the feast, which is called "Gathered Around The Cooking Stove." No one is to go out that night, or retire before midnight.
The Scripture says in Exodus 12: 22 "none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning."


6) Red on the Door
According to Chinese custom, one man discovered that the monster "Nien" dreaded loud noise and the colour red. Because of this, Chinese people decorate their houses with red paper and set off firecrackers on the day Nien is expected to make his appearance.
God commanded each Israelite family to take a lamb in Exodus 12: 5 - 7 "Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it."

The Chinese New Year shares many traditions with the Jewish Passover. Like many Jews, though, the Chinese are unaware of the fulfillment of the Passover symbolism in the sacrifice of Christ. Chinese put red paper around their doors to bring hope and peace to the family, but they do not know of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, which, when applied to the heart, will bring eternal satisfaction.

1 Corinthians 5:7 "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:"

The Chinese character for righteousness (yi) is formed by putting two other characters on top of each other. The top character (yang) means lamb. The bottom character (wo) means me, self or I. When they are put together, the word righteousness (yi) is formed. True righteousness is gained therefore by taking on the covering of the lamb Christ Jesus.Millions of Chinese people still do not know that this lamb is the Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of all mankind. However, the Chinese will remark that to write the Chinese character 'just', or 'righteous', simply write the word 'Lamb' over 'I' (or 'me'). Similarly we must give Christ, our Passover Lamb, first place in our lives in order that we may gain true righteousness. 1 Peter 3:18 ?For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:"