5 Chinese New Year traditions

The Chinese or Lunar New Year marks the first day of the year on the Chinese calendar. Known as the Spring Festival, the celebration lasts approximately 15 days. Celebrating the Chinese New Year is a fun activity that people of all cultural backgrounds can enjoy with family and friends.

During the Chinese New Year, children receive money in red envelopes to ensure luck in the coming year.

• The envelopes, called Hong Bao or Lai See, promise success and good fortune to the recipients.
• The colour also represents protection against evil spirits.

Households open their doors to allow luck to pour into their homes during Chinese New Year.

• Lantern festivals are celebrated, and decorative lanterns are hung in temples or carried to a parade during an evening festival.

During the seventh day of the celebration, Renri is observed. On this day, everyone in China becomes a year older. A salad of tossed raw fish, called yusheng, is consumed so that people will enjoy continued prosperity.

During this period, writings that refer to luck are frequently displayed in commercial establishments and homes.

• The brush-written symbols are featured on red paper that is diamond-shaped.
• Additionally, oranges and tangerines are displayed in stores and homes, both of which denote wealth and happiness.

During the New Year, Chinese families enjoy a vegetarian dish known as jai, which is made up of fibrous and root vegetables. Different vegetables have different meanings when added to the dish.

• For example, dried bean curd signifies the fulfilment of happiness and wealth, while black moss seaweed promises wealth to anyone who eats the jai dish. Bamboo shoots assure recipients that everything is well.
• Tofu or fresh bean curd are not included in jai as the foods are white and therefore considered unlucky for the New Year. White indicates misfortune and death, definitely not something you want in the coming year.

The Chinese New Year is a time when people make offerings to deities in the home, red clothing is worn for luck and people host large banquet celebrations for their friends and family; people take part in dragon and lion dances and watch parades and acrobatic entertainment; the clashing of cymbals and the banging of gongs can be heard and fireworks are prominently displayed throughout China as a promise of good fortune.