Over the many years I have been on this earth, my mum has been drumming the fact that the first day of the Lunar New Year is for welcoming the deities of the heavens and earth. The welcoming reception starts from midnight. Chinese of Taoist and Buddhist faiths go to temples on the first day of the Chinese New Year to burn incense and pray for health, wealth and whatever else that they wish for to have or to happen to them in the coming year. When the clock strikes twelve, there would be many devlotees at temples who try to be the first to put incense sticks into a burn. It is believed that whoever who manages to burn the first incense stick would have a wonderful and fruitful year ahead.
Anyway, it has never been my practice to go to the temple at 12.00 midnight to try and have a contest with others to see if I can put the joss-sticks in the burner first. I believe in going to the temple to pay respect to Buddha and the other Gods and Goddesses and to ask for blessings for a good year ahead.
Today my mum and I only went to the Buddhist temple in Tambun Road as we waited until after 11.00 a.m. to leave the house because of certain Feng Shui taboos. We usually visit at least two places of worship on the first day. Anyway, like what Scarlet O'Hara said in the epic, "Gone with the Wind", tomorrow is another day.
Reference: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/184146,taiwanese-welcome-in-lunar-new-year-with-fireworks-and-feasts.html#ixzz0fauiQpc0
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