The Year of the Monkey has seen much turbulence, not only in
the natural world but also in politics. Leaders have fallen from high positions
and earthquakes, floods and fires have taken a toll on the land. Wars have
caused misery to countless millions of people. These events have many people
saying that the End Times are here. It
is certainly with relief that many wave the Monkey on its way out and greet the
Rooster with hope for a better year.
What Does The Rooster Symbolise?
To the Chinese, this zodiac sign is auspicious so the Year
of the Fire Rooster is expected to bring overall improvement during the year of
its reign.
A feng shui expert shared that there are five virtues
associated with the rooster, namely politeness, courage, benevolence,
reliability and bravery. It is a fearless fighter and it is reliable because it
never fails to crow every morning, acting as an alarm clock for many especially
those in the rural areas.
The chicken is also a traditional offering for prayers. Whole
chickens, steamed, can be seen at the altars.
Apart from that, it is also used to represent
an absent groom during a wedding ceremony, especially when it is a “ghost”
wedding where one partner is already deceased. If the man has already passed
on, then the rooster is used in his place, while a hen would represent the
deceased bride.
An interesting ritual which used to be practiced in the past
as part of a wedding ceremony, is a pair of chickens, a hen and a rooster which
are tied together and placed under the matrimonial bed. The following morning,
when they are untied, the chicken which runs out first will indicate the gender
of the baby that the couple will have. A rooster would indicate a boy while the
hen would indicate a girl.
The rooster can also ward off evil and when it crows at
dawn, it signifies that all ghosts and evil elements would go away.
The Chinese community especially the business sector look
forward to its strutting on stage when the Monkey bows out.
Wishing my family, relatives and friends Gong Xi Fa Cai!
No comments:
Post a Comment