Chinese New Year Traditions

New Year Traditions

January 29 marks the first day of the 15-day celebration of the Chinese New Year (also known as the Lunar New Year), which culminates with the Lantern Festival on the 15th night.

This year is considered to be the Year of the Dog, which honors nobility, honesty and trust. Click here for more Chinese Zodiac information.

A celebration of good luck and good fortune for the coming year, Chinese New Year is deeply entrenched in traditions the whole family can enjoy.

Traditions for the Chinese New Year are very carefully followed, and the food is particularly important. Many of the dishes made for the New Year hold special significance for the coming year. Some of the traditional foods include:

	Food/Cuisine		Symbolizes		Examples
	Dumplings		Family togetherness		New Year Dumpling Delight
	Long Noodles		Long, happy life		Longevity Noodles with Sesame Shrimp
	Prawns		Liveliness and happiness		New Year Dumpling Delight
	Mixed Vegetables		Family harmony		Stir-Fry Vegetables
	Sweet Rice Cake		Safety and fortune for the family		Festive Colorful Rice
	Chicken (served whole)		Family unity and togetherness		Beer-Basted Asian Chicken
	Fish		Surplus, having more than enough		Steamed Whitefish
	Oranges & Tangerines		Abundand happiness		Forbidden Rice with Cranberries and Pine Nuts

Traditions for the New Year are very carefully followed, from the cuisine to the clothing. Following are a few tips to ensure the New Year brings good fortune.

Traditions: Wear Red — Considered a bright, happy color, red is believed to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future. Spread Good Fortune — Give red envelopes (“hong bao”)containing a crisp dollar bill to children, unmarried friends, and close friends for good luck. Decorate with Meaning — Prepare an octagonal tray full of dried fruits, nuts and sweets called a “Chyuhn-haap” or “tray of togetherness,” which symbolizes a variety of well wishes for the coming year. Open Up — On the stroke of midnight, open every door and window in the house to allow the old year out and the New Year in. Blooming Beauty Decorate the house with blooming plants to represent new growth an wealth. Fire Away — Set off firecrackers on New Year’s Eve to send off the old year and welcome in the new. Clean House — Before New Year’s Day, the entire house should be cleaned and all brooms and dustpans must be put away. If you clean on New Year’s Day, you may sweep out your family’s good fortune! No Swearing — Negative words, death and dying are not to be mentioned, as they could bring bad luck. Give a Little-Children, close friends, and family are given “Hong Bao,” little red envelopes on New Year’s Day. They have crisp one-dollar bills inside for good fortune. Many people pay off debts before the New Year, too. Cutting Up — Get a haircut before the New Year, not during, and be sure to wear your new clothes. Lighting Up — Lights should be kept on overnight on New Year’s Eve. Meet and Greet — It’s customary to visit close friends and relatives on the New Year. Catch of the Day — On the last day of New Year, some single people throw apples (men) or oranges (women) into a river or ocean to wish for a good partner.