7 Chinese New Year traditions to bring you happiness and good fortune
Looking to get lucky in the Year of the Rabbit? Here are some Chinese New Year traditions believed to bring happiness and prosperity.
Ever wondered why red is a popular colour during Chinese New Year?
Or why are there always firecrackers being set off somewhere in the distance?
Also known as Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year is a festival celebrated by more than 1.2 million Chinese-Australians in Australia, often taking place between January 21 and February 20.
It is a time for families to get together and wish for a prosperous year, filled with customs believed to bring good fortune.
Here are some Chinese New Year traditions believed to set you up for a positive year:
Chinese calligraphy decorations
Red Chinese calligraphy papers can be seen on the front doors of houses during Chinese New Year day to welcome good luck, explains Chinese Association Victoria public relations officer Adwin Town.
“The drawings on the doors are ‘door gods’ to protect the house,” Adwin says.
Setting off firecrackers
Adwin says people usually light firecrackers from the first to the seventh day of Chinese New Year.
Not only is this done to welcome in the New Year but most importantly, it is believed to drive away evil spirits.
Keeping it clean for the New Year
CEO and founder of Cultural Infusion Peter Mousaferiadis says there is often a “spring clean” leading up to Chinese New Year’s day.
“You clean your house because the word ‘dust’ in Chinese is also a homophone for ‘old’,” Peter says.
“Cleaning the house is symbolic for driving away omens.”
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Surround yourself with red
The colour red is also important for Chinese New Year as it symbolises good luck, prosperity and wards off evil spirits, Peter says.
It is also often associated with the colour of life, happiness and warmth.
Avoid porridge during Chinese New Year
Intercultural ambassador Chinese delegate of the City of Ballarat Yilin Liu says it’s best to avoid eating porridge or liquid food during the New Year period.
“In ancient times, porridge and liquid food were for poor people who did not have enough food to cook solid food,” Yilin says.
As a result, she says it is believed eating porridge will mean the continuation of poverty throughout the year.
A time to find romance
If you are single, Yilin says the second day of Chinese New Year is a good day to go to the temple to worship the Moon Lord, a tradition practised in some provinces of China.
“Remember to express to (the) Moon Lord the requirements of your ideal partner when seeking marriage, the more detailed the better,” she says.
Avoid arguments during Chinese New Year
If you want to get started on the right foot this year, Adwin says Chinese New Year is not the time for fights.
Getting into quarrels especially during this period is believed to bring about bad luck for the rest of the year, Adwin says.
Arguments and negative comments made during Chinese New Year are interpreted as the foreshadowing of unfavourable events taking place in the future.
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Written by Melissa Hong.
