Celebrate: Chinese New Year is a time to spend with family and friends, celebrate the new lunar year, and welcome the spring season. There are many traditions associated with this holiday, including hanging red lanterns and writing poems to bring luck. It is also a time to feast on traditional dishes such as dumplings, noodles, and fish. Gifting money in red envelopes to family members is also a popular custom.
Decorate: To celebrate Chinese New Year, it is customary to decorate the home with bright colors and festive paper-cuts. Red decorations are especially popular since they symbolize good fortune and joy. Other decorations include Chinese knots, paper lanterns, couplets written on scrolls of red paper and paintings depicting symbolic animals like dragons and phoenixes.
Travel: For those who live away from their families or friends, traveling during the holiday is a popular tradition. Depending on the destinations, travelers might enjoy unique cultural experiences such as attending temple fairs in Beijing and eating traditional snacks in Shanghai.
Gather: Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions, and many people travel from far and wide to be with their loved ones. To kickstart the festivities, families usually gather around the dinner table at the end of the first day for a big meal. Dishes served typically include whole fish to represent abundance, sweet rice balls for reunion, dumplings for wealth, and long noodles for longevity. It’s also customary to exchange greetings and gifts during this special occasion.
Appreciate: During Chinese New Year, it’s important to appreciate those who have helped you in your life—from teachers and mentors to friends and colleagues. This could involve sending them cards, hosting a dinner in their honor, or simply calling them to express your gratitude. In addition, many people take this opportunity to clean their homes and prepare for the new year ahead.
Enjoy: With its vibrant street parades, cultural events and captivating fireworks displays, Chinese New Year is an exciting time of year full of festivities. Enjoy these celebrations by attending a temple fair or opera performance, joining in on traditional lion dances or dragon boat races, and savoring delicious mooncakes with friends and family. This is a special time to celebrate life’s blessings and create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime!
Greet: Last but not least, don’t forget to greet people with “Gong Xi Fa Cai,” which roughly translates to “May you bring in more wealth and prosperity.” Saying this phrase is a small gesture of goodwill that can go a long way in bringing people together. On Chinese New Year, the warmth of family and friends is what really matters—so don’t forget to share this special holiday with your nearest and dearest!
Prepare foods: Traditional Chinese dishes are prepared for the festivities such as dumplings, noodles, fish, and sweet desserts. Dumplings are a popular choice for the holiday because they represent wealth and good fortune. Noodles symbolize long life, while fish stands for abundance. Sweet desserts like mooncakes and glutinous rice balls signify reunion and togetherness. These dishes are usually prepared with family members in advance so that everyone can enjoy them during the celebrations.
Gifts: Gifting money in red envelopes is an important part of Chinese New Year customs. This small token is believed to bring luck and prosperity to those who receive it, especially when they come from their elders or bosses. Other gifts such as books, flowers, tea sets, clothes, chocolates, and fruits are also exchanged among friends and family members as a sign of goodwill and appreciation
Observe traditions: Participate in activities like lion dances, firecrackers, gift-giving and exchanging red envelopes filled with “lucky money”. Try to learn the customs associated with Chinese New Year such as not washing your hair or doing laundry on the first day of the new year, and wearing red to represent luck and good fortune. Spend time with family and friends by playing traditional games or gathering around for festive meals.
These are just some of the traditions that come with Chinese New Year celebrations. Whether you choose to stay home or travel, we wish you luck and prosperity for the coming year! Gong Xi Fa Cai!
