High-Throughput Biosensing Laboratory, Departement of Food Safety/Hygiene, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Republic of China (Taiwan) Happy celebrating Chinese New Year (15/02). As Jesus said in Revelation 1:18: “ I am the Living One I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades”.įor me, the Chinese New Year makes me understand that blood of Christ has defeated all kinds of “nian” in our lives and hold the keys of death and Hades. His red blood will be like our “red cloth” and become our “red lantern” to live our lives until the end of the age and become our hope that we will not get from anywhere. The “Monster nián (read: death)” was not only driven and feared, but also totally defeated forever in His resurrection on the third day.

His blood not only scared death, but also defeated death. His blood not only saves us from the “monster nián” and death, but he also won against the death. When we believe in Christ, His blood will be a sign for us to be saved from death and purifies us from all sin. Eternal death is our main enemy, that is like a monster nián that always haunts our lives. We are basically sinful human beings who deserve eternal death. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7). “Like a monster nián who is afraid of red cloth, so too Satan feared the blood of Christ” said a friend of mine. This red cloth reminds us of the costly blood of Christ that is a sign for every person who escapes eternal death. Secondly, red lanterns and red cloth remind me of the blood of Christ who saved His people from sin.Įvery time we see red lanterns and cloth adorn every door of people’s homes along the city’s sidewalks, we give thanks in our hearts. It is coined as “passover” which later celebrated as Easter, meaning ‘salvation from death’. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. When the Lord goes through the land to strikedown the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down” (Exodus 12:22-24).īlood on the door of the house is a sign that they are God’s people so that their house will be passed by the death angel. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. But God also commanded the Israelites to put blood on their doorframe to escape the angel of death. In Exodus 12, clearly the Lord commanded the angel of death to take the life of the firstborn throughout Egypt at night. As Christians, we take advantage of this moment also to recount and recall the salvation of the Israelites from death. The story above is being retold every Chinese new year. Congratulations here means ‘passing of the beast’ or ‘salvation of death’. The next day, in the new year, those who escape from death are grateful and talk each other “Gōng xǐ! Gōng xǐ!” (恭喜! 恭喜!) which means ‘congratulations’. Therefore, people put lanterns on their doorsteps as a way of scaring the monster. The monster nián will pounce on all the creatures that are found.

Nián is believed to be a monstrous creature (monster) who comes every new year’s night to find prey.

This is based on the ancient Chinese people’s story of nián (年). The new year in Chinese is called Guònián (过年) which means ‘passing of the beast’. Once, a Chinese friend told me about the history of salvation that is embedded in the celebration. For me, there are 2 important things when celebrating Chinese New Year.įirstly, the Chinese new year reminds me of the salvation from death. As an Asian, I am used in celebrating Chinese New Year with friends. Living and studying in a predominantly Chinese-speaking country, it is very interesting to celebrate Chinese new year among them. The Chinese new year is one of the most festive Chinese traditions celebrated around the world. Samuel Herianto (e-mail: of Biomedical Sciences, National Central Unversity, Republic of China

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