Wednesday, 25 January 2012
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Chinese custom to make life better
Chinese Groundhog Day/Excited Insects Day
from:http://www.hkfastfacts.com/Chinese-culture/Chinese-groundhog-day.htm
Chinese Ground Hog Day, Chinese Insects Awake Day or Excited Insects Day is one of the24 Chinese solar divisions. Hibernated animals should come back and rejoice the arrival of Spring and it marks the beginning of new life. This includes creepy crawly insects and bugs which most people would rather squash when they see one. And somehow this turns into beating up paper tigers that symbolizing your enemies or what we called petti people such that you will be free of trouble or misfortune.
Canal Street in Wanchai is "THE" street for beating 'petti people' Many old ladies there will sell you incense sticks and yellow paper tigers. It's up to you to write your enemies' name on the paper tiger or not. Some people even tuck the photo of the enemy into the paper tiger. Common enemies are bosses, husband's mistress or even Tung Chee Wah (the first Chief Executive of HK) when people dislike his policy. Then you pay the old lady $50 and she will beat that paper tiger for you with a shoe. I often thought that the old lady will curse your enemy for you while she is beating up the paper tiger. But it is said that it is not necessarily the case. Some people simply ask the shoe-beater to pray for their family and free of misfortune. Another form of praying.
In 2010, Chinese Groundhog Day / Excited Insects Day falls on 6 Mar.
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Comments (20)
what an amazing way to get ride of resentments :D
Do they still believe that stuff or is it just tradition now for most, like Christmas and Easter in Christendom?
@Lovegrove - Sort of like hiring lawyers but less expensive. When Chinese have problems they take them to other people to solve them. Then you can say that you are having someone working on your problem (in a way that supposedly won't get you sued)
Happy Chinese New Year to you!
I read once that some Japanese companies had rooms with manikins that looked like Supervisors. Frustrated employees could go to that room and get a bat to beat 'it' over the head.
This sounds similar.
frank
that is a good idea but for that much I will beat that tiger myself(I'm an old lady)
Now that is a great idea. Thanks for sharing this.
This is so interesting and cool!
Happy Chinese New Year!
HUGS!
The Chinese have many great and meaningful customs.
Too awesome! Thanks for sharing this. I would love to be a tiger/shoe beating old woman.
Redemption as in making up for the bad things of me or just apologizing inside for it. Instead of having something to feel sorry for, i want to naturally never let those things come to be.
That's so interesting. I think she can make a lot of money that way! I wonder if they believe in her power to bring them good fortune and that's why they are willing to pay so much? I did have an Angry Birds update level called the year of the dragon. In the Bible the dragon was the devil, right?
Reminds me of the voodoo people in New Orleans. They make a doll representing your enemy then stick pins in it and put a hex on said enemy.
@thankee - You can do it the American way. Charge $49.98
How interesting is that?? I never of it before... thanks so much for this! I'd love to share this with friends.
wow... i wonder if its effective :Dwell, giving blessings is more potent that cursing :)
How exciting, I'll be sure to note that on my calendar!
Oh, I remember this. I saw this lady on TV.
In 2012, Chinese Groundhog Day / Excited Insects Day falls on 5 Mar.
For a minute there I thought this was a satire. I'm Chinese myself and have never heard of it!