Can we as Chinese Christians celebrate Chinese New Year, especially when there are aspects steeped in idol worship and pagan practices? Here are some points to consider while enjoying time with our loved ones. Unfortunately, some of our Chinese New Year celebrations focus too much on our temporal earthly life and tangible success. Chinese Christians, much as they value their culture, must seek to understand its symbolism and be careful to avoid religious elements that do not accord with Holy Scripture. Chinese New Year is the largest holiday of the year in China and if you are praying for China or joining some Chinese friends during the festival, there are two things that every Christian should know. Therefore, during the Spring Festival, Christians should not reject the custom of the New Year celebration. We should not refuse non-Christian customs for the purpose of setting ourselves apart for holiness. Chinese New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year’s Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honour of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors. Chinese and many other Asian Christians continue to celebrate the New Year so as to maintain their ethnic identity. But while the celebration was traditionally marked by a religious ceremony in honour of Heaven and Earth, the household gods and ancestors, Chinese Christians will celebrate the event from the perspective of their faith in Christ. Chinese and many other Asian Christians continue to celebrate the New Year so as to maintain their ethnic identity. But while the celebration was traditionally marked by a religious ceremony in honour of Heaven and Earth, the household gods and ancestors, Chinese Christians will celebrate the event from the perspective of their faith in Christ. At first glance, the two events seem contradictory: Lent is a time of fasting, abstinence and penance, while New Year is a time of joyful celebration. But in his Pastoral Letter for Lent 2024, Bishop Joseph Gan Junqiu, head of the Archdiocese of Guangzhou, shows how the Christian vision can dissolve this apparent contradiction. Salt&Light gives you five ways you can celebrate Chinese New Year in true Christian style while still honouring the culture. 1. Decorations that celebrate God’s goodness. The celebration of Lunar New Year by the Chinese focuses on peace in personal safety as well as prosperity in personal gains in life. Unfortunately, instead of acknowledging the Creator God as the universal benefactor, the hope is shifted to rely on created celestial patterns and other deified characters, as we see in the Chinese Zodiac. Can Christians Celebrate Chinese New Year? Have you ever considered how cultural celebrations can coexist with personal beliefs? In this engaging video, we w By Asst Ps Patrick Chan YinChinese (or Lunar) New Year is this Sunday 22nd January 2023 and according to the Chinese Zodiac, it will be the first day of the Year of the Rabbit.As I was passing by the West Coast market, a big statue of the Chinese god of prosperity was erected to greet the people and I could not help but notice some of the people bowing before it, perhaps whispering a quick Chinese New Year (also called Lunar New Year, celebrated this year on February 5) is the largest holiday for many Asian peoples in terms of scale, importance, and family traditions. The name “Chinese New Year” can be misleading, as multiple Asian countries, such as China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Singapore and others, celebrate this It seems that Christian platforms release posts and articles concerning if Christians can celebrate XX festival upon the arrival of a certain Chinese traditional holiday. Now the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, is around the corner. Lunar New Year Practices & Traditions. Many of the practices and traditions of Lunar New Year focus on how to bring peace and prosperity. The Evangelical Times article: “Chinese new year – a Christian perspective”, written by Jack Sin, expands on many of the common practices and traditions of Lunar New Year. You can read more in-depth I come from a country in Asia, and the tradition in my family is that we celebrate Chinese New Year every year. How should I celebrate this festival in a biblical way, and at the same time honor my non-believing parents? For example: Can I wish others "Gong Xi Fa Cai" which means "wishing you China’s Lantern Festival, or Yuan Xiao Jie, is another example. The festival began long ago as a religious observance but now is often seen simply as a new year’s celebration of traditional Chinese culture. There’s also the traditional Hawaiian hula dance, which began as a form of worship to Laka, the goddess of love, forests, and plants. This week sees the arrival of Chinese New Year, the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar. Most of China will shut down for the week as people return to their ancestral homes to celebrate with family. For Chinese Christians, the holiday can often bring them mixed emotions: happiness and 3. Celebrate it in a way that glorifies God. “Christians can eat, drink and be merry during the new year without any involvement in superstitious matters,” affirms Rev. Elijah in an article ‘Annual Debate’ on Chinese-Tradition and Christianity: Should Christians Celebrate Chinese New Year? by Elsie Hu published in China Christian Daily. Rediscovering the Roots of Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year celebrations are believed to have begun as long ago as the 14th century BC. As such, a multitude of origin stories surround the many traditions associated with this festive occasion. These include firecrackers (to chase away the much-feared monster Nian), dragon and lion dances (to
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