Fai Chun 2022 . Votive Papers Offering – 2022.01.27
Lunar New Year of the Tiger Celebrations
The Rui Cunha Foundation opens the Gallery doors tomorrow, Thursday, January 27, 2022, for the traditional “Fai Chun . Votive Papers Offering” event, where the public may come and collect their Chinese calligraphy messages of good luck, free of charge, from 10:00am to 4:00pm, co-organzed with The Flora Garden Poetry Friends Association.
The population is invited to enter and choose their best wishes for good luck and prosperity, under the guidance of 28 local master calligraphers – such as Ung Choi Kun, Ng Pio (Yum Fung Chan), Yum Wing On, Yuen Wai Sang, Ho Lai Simand others –, who will be present throughout the day, under the celebrations of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Tiger.
Fai Chun (揮 春) is a traditional decoration, often used during the Chinese New Year, which also marks the arrival of the spring season. In English it can be translated as Spring Wave. People put the Fai Chun on the doors to create a festive and joyful atmosphere, as the calligraphic phrases mean good luck and prosperity. Typically, Fai Chun papers were written by hand, but printed versions are now more common and mass produced to be sold. They can be square or rectangular and hung vertically or horizontally, usually in pairs. Not only do they exist in China, but also in Korea, Japan and Vietnam.
Traditional Fai Chun are red in color, with black or gold characters inscribed with a brush. Similar to the color of fire, red was chosen to scare the legendary ferocious beast “Nian”, who devoured the crops of the villagers, the cattle and even the peasants themselves on New Year’s Eve. Hence the tradition of protecting homes with the best cheerful wishes for the year to come.
2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger, which begins on February 1, 2022 (first day of the Chinese New Year) and lasts until January 31, 2023. The Tiger is the third sign in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. People born in the Year of the Tiger have qualities of leadership and assertiveness, bravery and liveliness. They command respect and love a challenge, while being prepared to take risks.
Since ancient times, the tiger has been known as the “king of all beasts” in China. The tiger is a symbol of great strength, vitality, courage and authority, having always been adored by the Han people, who consider it a mysterious and fearless animal. The pattern on the tiger’s forehead constitutes the Chinese character for “king”. In Chinese legend, the tiger is also an extremely powerful and just animal, capable of warding off three great disasters in the family: fire, theft and evil. Therefore, some families hang pictures of tigers in their homes, on the door or gates, so that evil spirits do not dare to enter.
As in previous years, this is a very popular event, which will be held with some adaptations regarding the public health measures implemented by the local authorities.
Join us and pick up a pair of Fai Chun to put on your doorstep and greet the arrival of the Lunar New Year!
Kung Hei Fat Choi!
For Macau, Further and Higher!
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