Chinese New Year traditions

The Chinese New Year was probably the most beautiful, colourful, and significant of all the traditional holidays. The Chinese used this occasion to congratulate one another and themselves on making it through another year, to say goodbye to the previous one and welcome the new one. 

There are several traditions associated with Chinese New Year, going from little domestic ceremonies to significant public celebrations. Every little detail and tradition now plays a significant and essential role in Chinese culture.

 Here are some CNY traditions:

1. Cleaning: A week before the New Year, families usually gather together to clean their homes thoroughly to symbolically sweep away bad luck and make room for good luck.

2. Decorations: Red decorations, such as lanterns, banners, and posters, are used to decorate homes and streets. The colour red is considered lucky in Chinese culture and is believed to ward off evil spirits.

3. New Year's Eve dinner: A family reunion dinner is typically held on New Year's Eve where they will have Yee Sang. Yee Sang is a salad made with different vegetables, salmon, dumpling wrappers and seasoned with hoisin sauce and other condiments. The salad in itself is delicious, but it is also part of a ritual that families love. The salad plate is placed on the middle of the table and everyone is supposed to take their chopsticks and toss it up in the air. People will try to toss it as high as possible to attract good fortune. So toss it as high as you canlah to attract fortunes 😂

4. Angpao: Everyone loves angpao. Well, will you be receiving the angpao or giving the angpao? Usually married adults give red envelopes filled with money to unmarried children and teenagers as gifts, which is a way to give blessings and good luck.

5. Lion and dragon dance: Lion and dragon dances, which are performed by teams of dancers wearing elaborate lion or dragon costumes, are a traditional and colourful way to celebrate Chinese New Year.

6. Giving visits: People will visit their families, friends and neighbours to exchange greetings and good wishes during Chinese New Year. Another good thing for the singles, kids are more ANGPAO 😂

The rabbit is the symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese Culture, thus 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope! Overall Chinese New Year is a time for families to come together, to celebrate, and to reflect on the past year while looking forward to the new one. 

So, how are you celebrating Chinese New Year this year? Whatever the rituals, feasts, or parades are, the most important thing is that everyone comes together in harmony and expresses gratitude for the year that has passed, the new opportunities, and the people who have always been there with you on this great journey. Well I hope you hop hop throughout the rest of the year like a rabbit! 🐇🐇

Cheers & Gongxi Fa Cai!🧧