Chinese New Year, also referred to as Lunar New Year, is a celebration marking the start of a new year. For a millennial, traditions and customs with deep meaning have been used to celebrate during this time around.
1. Red Chinese Lanterns
Red Chinese Lanterns can be found around the streets and above doorways. It is believed that Red Chinese Lanterns fight bad luck and promote peace. It is also a symbol of good fortune and a spiritual message for wealth and prosperity.
2. Chinese New Year’s Dinner
Chinese New Year’s Dinner, also known as Reunion Dinner, is a traditional meal where family members gather together to celebrate the arrival of a new year. This dinner is regarded as the most important part of the holiday as it is an opportunity to connect and for elders to catch up with their children or grandchildren.
Some dishes eaten during the Lunar New Year are fish and dumplings. In Chinese, “fish” sounds like “surplus,” which is impactful because many Chinese people like to have a surplus at the end of the year. Chinese dumplings are shaped like Chinese silver ingots (old Chinese currency). Legend has it that the more dumplings you eat, the more money you will receive at the end of the year.
3. Cleaning and Decorating
One of the most crucial traditions is to clean your house a few days before Chinese New Year. It is a symbol of sweeping away negative energy and creating room for good luck to enter. But, keep in mind that cleaning during the beginning of New Year is prohibited, as it is said to drive away the start of fortune and luck.
After cleaning, do not forget to decorate your house with red and gold. These colors carry happiness and prosperity that you want to carry into your new year. Each decoration has a special meaning and purpose. For example, Chinese characters represent strength and protection.
Altogether, these cultural practices weigh heavy significance in warding off evil and absorbing goodness and riches.
