As the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, one writer explores how we can discern which cultural traditions are acceptable—and which can even be redeemed for God’s glory.

Eliza Tan

“Girl, remember to get new clothes for the Lunar New Year!” Papa reminded me a month before the holiday.

“Orh!” I replied. After all, who’s going to protest when your father urges you to buy new clothes?

Observing this tradition and others such as spring cleaning, decorating the house, and buying goodies to indulge in and feed guests certainly puts me in the mood for Lunar New Year. Not only do the practices remind me of my ethnic identity, but they also enable me to celebrate the rich cultural inheritance passed down through generations.

Admittedly, however, some of the traditions seem a little more thorny to me as a Christian.

My unbelieving Papa has no qualms looking at the Chinese zodiac predictions and telling me what to look out for every new year, despite my insistence that I don’t believe in them.

Maybe it’s just me, but I try to avoid public displays of the zodiac sign predictions deliberately.

I mean, have you heard of the Barnum effect? It’s the cognitive bias where one unconsciously accepts astrology, fortune telling and personality descriptions; because they are so vague, they can apply to almost anyone. Every prediction can be very zhun (meaning ‘accurate’ in Chinese)!

It doesn’t help that I once witnessed an awkward situation related to this at my former workplace. A female colleague was talking about an article on the auspicious timings to deposit money in the bank on the day of Li Chun (beginning of spring), based on zodiac signs. A male colleague, a professed Christian, eagerly wanted to know more. She retorted, “Aren’t you a Christian? You mean you believe in this?”

The look of embarrassment on my Christian colleague’s face was unforgettable, and I felt sorry for him in such an uncomfortable position.

So, what’s a Christian supposed to do when dealing with traditions and practices, so that they do not diminish our faith and witness?

In itself, the Lunar New Year marks the start of an agricultural calendar that combines the solar and lunar calendars. For example, farmers track the movement of the sun to predict when the rainy season will likely start and when to harvest before the weather gets too hot. The monthly waxing and waning of the moon, too, determines occasions such as the new year (which falls on the first day of the first month in the calendar) and Mid-Autumn Festival (which falls on the 15th day of the eighth month, when there’s a full moon).

On the other hand, the origins of some festive traditions are the stuff of mythology. Many would have heard of the story where villages fended off a beast, known as nian (which also means ‘year’), with loud noises and the colour red. This evolved to practices such as setting off firecrackers (banned in Singapore), and associating red with auspicious meanings, with people incorporating the colour into their attires and decorations. Over time, many of these traditions took on cultural significance that do not oppose our faith.

At the same time, Scripture denounces human traditions when they “nullify the word of God” and undermine our dependence on Christ (Mark 7:13; Colossians 2:8). For example, some families practise ancestral worship on the first day of the Chinese New Year, where adherents ask the spirits of the ancestors to bless and protect the family. This practice would go against the teaching of Leviticus 19:31 that prohibits followers of God from interacting with spirits. We are also commanded not to bow down to other created things (Exodus 20:4–5).

But what’s wrong with consulting the zodiac? After all, God created the stars to “serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years” (Genesis 1:14), and people from the ancient past had looked to stars to track seasons and places. The sun, too, is a star that tells us the length of a day. A star even signalled the birth of the Messiah, which some wise men observed (Matthew 2:2).

Yet, some interpret the zodiac or constellations to seek knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means. Listening to those who practise this act of divination is expressly prohibited by God; instead, God calls His people to listen to His voice (see Deuteronomy 18:10–17).

On another level, some traditions can reveal whom or what we trust.

Some customs on ensuring good fortune are mixed with folk beliefs that are seemingly harmless. For example, don’t sweep the floor to retain good luck (can I use a vacuum cleaner instead?); avoid sharp objects that may cut off good fortune on the first day (if you can’t use baby food scissors, maybe feed your baby porridge?); and stay up late on Lunar New Year’s eve to bring longevity to our parents (certainly easier to do this when you’re younger . . . ).

As much as we would like to control the future, we have to be careful that observing such practices does not lead us to believe that we can influence or manipulate an unseen, maybe even spiritual, power. This can cause us to depend on the ways of man rather than trusting in the power of God.

Instead, we must seek the way of Christ and heed the warning against “empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. . . . Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realise the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything” (Colossians 2:8–10, The Message).

Yet, ignoring some of these customs altogether can invite unnecessary conflict. Wear black on the first day of Lunar New Year? Not only will it earn me an earful from my Papa, but the relatives I visit would likely also curse me for wearing a colour associated with mourning!

So, we should still wear red when we visit others, exchange mandarin oranges, and give out red packets. What separates these practices from superstition, even if they originate from folklore, is that practising them does not negate God’s sovereign control over our lives. Amid these practices, we acknowledges the source of our blessings—God (James 1:17).

We can also emulate God and speak life-giving words, infusing biblical blessings in our festive greetings. For example, apart from proclaiming health in the new year (新年快乐，身体健康), we can wish others, “May your cup of blessing overflow” (福杯满溢), or “May your year be filled with abundance” (新年蒙恩).

On top of celebrating our cultural inheritance, let’s testify of the new life filled with blessings, freedom, and renewal we have in Christ. Thank God for the joy we can have in our faith and heritage!