Celebrating Chinese New Year: Traditions

What is your favorite part of Chinese New Year? Maybe it’s the spark of firecrackers chasing demons away on the eve of the new year. Or lighting lanterns, yuan xiao, on the night of the full moon, marking the end of the two-week holiday. Do you just enjoy hanging out with all of your family and friends, piling your plate with dumplings or sticky rice cakes that your kids help make?

February 3, 2011 marks the first day of the Chinese New Year. But preparations actually begin far beforehand. Traditionally, families thoroughly clean their homes to sweep away  ill fortune and make room for in-coming prosperity. It’s also important to pay all your debts and resolve your differences.

To prepare, you may wish to buy oranges, tangerines or persimmons, plum blossoms, and new clothes for the children (preferably in orange or red). Some people even paint their doors and window panes a fresh coat of red, symbolizing happiness and good luck. They decorate doors and windows with paper-cuts reflecting themes of wealth and longevity.

The eve of the Chinese New Year is celebrated with a feast, including jiao zi– dumplings. After dinner, the whole family might stay up playing games until the midnight fireworks. Then open the doors and windows to let go of the old year!

On New Year’s Day, children receive money in red paper envelopes called hong bao. Don’t clean the house or wash your hair, for it’s considered bad luck to sweep away the good fortune! But you should wear your brand new (red) clothes. During the fourteen days that follow, families visit relatives and friends or invite them over for dinner, re-igniting friendly relations and family bonds while forgetting grudges. Just don’t forget to say: “Gung Hey Fat Choy”– “Wishing You Prosperity and Wealth”!

Finally, the Lantern Festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year season. It takes place on the 15th day of the first month of the Lunar year. Thousands of lanterns line the streets, hung from homes and storefronts. Street festivities and performances include stilt walkers, acrobats, floats and parades, music and drums. And, of course, lion dances, dragon dances, and fireworks.