Every year celebrating the Lunar New Year marks a 15 day celebration of new beginnings and the close of the previous year. We usher in the Year of the Horse – an active and lively year! Celebrating Chinese New Year comes along with its unique set of traditions to the non-celebrator seen as “ritualistic”. In fact these typical customs are still followed within the generations. Here’s what to expect if you know anyone celebrating the Chinese New Year.
Cleaning: Some families do a thorough cleaning of the house, de-cluttering broken items, old items, or discarding items. The idea is to get rid of the old and usher in the new year with a clean slate.
Decorating: Red Red Calling Red colors and gold colors are most often used colors. There are lucky red decorations as in the “inverted” “FU”, and good luck/prosperous quotes strategically placed through out the home. Oranges, mandarins and assembling a “Tray of Togetherness” along with red floral arrangements, green foliage to symbolize growth are typical decorations in a household.
Clothing: Here’s you chance to deck out in red threads and new clothes and shoes.
Red Envelopes: It’s often customary for children and singles to receive good luck red envelopes. Monetary value is at the discretion of the giver in the range of $1 or $5 for friends and $10 upwards for close family.
New Year’s Eve Dinner: Think of this dinner as a “thanksgiving” dinner or reunion dinner with your immediate family. Symbolic meals with fish, noodles and other delicious prosperous dishes are served.
Fireworks: Fireworks are used to dispel evil forces
Good Luck Cheer: When you first wake up or greet friends or families—be sure to say GUNG HEY FAT CHOY and other good luck sayings!
Remember Chinese New Year is a period of great happiness and joy! Go out and share it with others!
