New Year's Traditions

Cleaning: On the 28th day of the New Year, families clean their houses in order to get rid of the bad luck of the old year and welcome the New Year.

Posting spring couplets and waving spring: Couplets, also known as spring scrolls, come in many varieties, but roughly speaking, there are couplets and spring strips. Each couplet has a horizontal cape and a character "福", while the spring strips, such as "万事亨通", are posted in the appropriate places, such as on the doorposts. In fact, since the Spring Festival couplets (including couplets and spring scrolls) were written by a person with a brush in ancient times, they were commonly known as "spring scrolls". In Guangdong, spring scrolls are called "wai chun", which is different from spring couplets, and this is a falsehood. On the twenty-ninth day of the New Year, in order to indicate a new year and new weather, and to increase the atmosphere of the New Year, some people put up stickers on both sides of their doors. Some people put spring couplets on both sides of the door, while the lintel is put on the horizontal cape. Some people also put up red paper with the words "Fu" and "Chun" indoors and outdoors, and even reverse these words to show that "Fu has arrived" and "Chun has arrived".

Organizing New Year's goods: The most important part of the New Year's business is to buy and sell food for the New Year's festivities.

Steaming New Year's Cake: On New Year's Eve, commonly known as the "New Year's Eve", which is the last day of the lunar calendar every year, families are busy steaming New Year's Cake. "Steamed rice cake" has an auspicious meaning and symbolizes a high level of success every year. Housewives should also pay attention to the skill of steaming rice cakes, because the success or failure of steaming rice cakes is related to the luck of the coming year.

New Year's Eve Dinner: On New Year's Eve, after paying homage to ancestors, the family eats a New Year's Eve dinner together to symbolize the reunion of the whole family. The Chinese also call this custom around the stove, as ancient people ate around the stove. And among the dishes of that night, fish is not to be eaten in its entirety, there should be leftovers, which means "surplus for the year".

Lunar New Year's money: Also known as "New Year's money" and "red envelopes", it is also known as "Lishui" in Guangdong. After the New Year's Eve dinner, the elders will give out New Year's money to the younger generation for good luck.

Watch the New Year's Eve: On New Year's Eve, the family sits around, talks about the sky and stays up all night, praying for the longevity of their parents, which is also known as the "Night of Longevity".

Firecrackers: The sound of firecrackers signifies that the old year is over and the new year is here. Legend has it that "Nian" is a terrible monster. The reason for setting off firecrackers on New Year's Day is to scare away the man-eating New Year's monster and to protect the safety of the family.

Wearing new clothes and shoes: Everything from clothes and hats to shoes and socks are brand new, meaning that everything is renewed. It is a particularly exciting event for small children.

Sacrificing ancestors and worshipping the gods: this is done on the morning of the first day of Chinese New Year. It is prayed that it will bless the believers and their children and grandchildren with peace.

Dumplings: Dumplings are eaten on the first day of the New Year and are shaped like the larger gold and silver ingots of ancient times, which means that eating the dumplings is a way of attracting

cash and treasure. If there are coins inside the dumplings,

it means that you will be rich in the new year.

New Year's greetings: On the first day of the New Year, families go to their friends' homes to pay their "New Year's greetings", where everyone meets and congratulates each other, saying, "Congratulations and good fortune! and wish each other good luck and good health in the new year.

Doing dental work: On the second day of the New Year, people who do business in general worship the God of the land with animal gifts.

Picking up the God of Fortune: On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, picking up the God of Fortune early in the morning signifies a good omen of hard work.

Out of the New Year: On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, businessmen usually choose an auspicious time to open their businesses and return to normal operations. Bosses give out "red packets" to all employees for good luck.

Lantern Appreciation: On the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the first month of the Lunar Calendar, there is a lively Lantern Appreciation and Lantern Riddle Guessing event.

Dragon Dance: Also known as the "Dragon Lantern Dance", the Dragon Lantern Dance has been passed down in China for a long time. The dragon symbolizes power, dignity and auspiciousness. It is believed that the dragon is in charge of rainfall, and the dragon dance can bless the coming year with good weather and a good harvest. It is a form of expression for every festive occasion.

Lion Dance: It is also called "Lion Dance" and "Lion Dance". There are many different forms of lion dance, which can be broadly categorized into two types: the northern lion dance and the southern lion dance. It is believed that the lion can drive away evil spirits and attract good fortune. During the Chinese New Year, the lion dance is performed in every house, beating gongs and drums to pay tribute to the New Year, which has an auspicious meaning. Chinese people like to be lively, this folk custom can increase the festive atmosphere of joy.