There are two festivals I celebrate every spring. One is of course Easter, which we celebrate this month. The other is Chinese New Year, which we celebrated last month, and which in China is called Spring Festival. Falling on the first new moon between 21 January and 20 February, this ancient festival marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, and in Chinese culture is associated with hope and expectation for the year ahead.
While the Lunar New Year is not a Christian festival, for Chinese Christians there are plenty of traditions that we can reinterpret or understand in the light of Jesus and through the prism of the Easter story.
Chinese characters which form couplets on red paper adorn the sides of people’s doorways, and reminds us of the Exodus from Egypt when the blood of the Passover lamb was painted on the doorframes of the Israelites. Red envelopes containing money is given to children at New Year, which for Christians reminds us of the free gift of Jesus’ salvation given to us through the shedding of his blood. Homes are cleaned from top to bottom at Spring Festival, originally to bring good luck but for Christians this reminds us of Jesus washing away our sins. Finally, new clothes are worn on Chinese New Year, which for us is a reminder of being clothed with Christ when we become Christians.
Jesus’ death and resurrection is the foundation of our faith. Without the cross and without the empty tomb there is no forgiveness for sins and there is no new life. As we celebrate Easter in a few weeks we are reminded once again of the hope that can only be found in Jesus. At Lunar New Year there is a Chinese character 福 that is often hung upside down in people’s homes. It means ‘blessing’ and hung upside down it signifies blessing being poured out. This Easter may God’s blessings of new life and hope in Christ be poured out in your life afresh.