Chinese New Year Traditions

Many of our Chinese and Filipino-Chinese friends are now very busy preparing for the 15-day Chinese New Year celebration, from February 8 to 22. The first day of the 2016 Chinese New Year is on February 8, 2016 in China's time zone. This day is a new moon day, and is the first day of the first Chinese lunar month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar system. The two of the most important days in the Chinese New Year festivities are the JIE CAI CENG, which is the 5th day of New Year’s and YUAN XIAO JIE, or Festival of Lanterns. which is the 15th day of New Year’s.

Similar with the regular New Year celebrations, the Chinese also have several traditions that they follow each year. Here are a few examples:

Fireworks
People all over the world have adopted the traditional fireworks every New Year’s Eve. It is a fact that the Chinese started this tradition to drive away evil spirits aside from celebrating the upcoming year. It is believed that the person who launched the first firework of the New Year will obtain good luck.


Dragon
The Chinese people believe that they are the descendants of the dragon therefore this mythical creature is always present during the Chinese New Year. You will see lots of dragon dances in front of office, restaurants and other establishments during the 5th and the 15th days of the New Year as it is believed that the dragon symbolizes good luck and good fortune.


Red packets
That red envelope always puts a smile on my face everytime I get one. Well, that was a long time ago when I was a kid. In Chinese tradition, it was believed that the money in the red packet will suppress the evil from the children, keep them healthy, and give them long life. Also called “hong bao”, these red envelopes are given mostly to children and unemployed adults for good fortune and prosperity.

Red decorations
Red in Chinese symbolizes prosperity, good luck and good fortune. Before the New Year comes, the Chinese people clean the entire house even including the smallest frame or figurine in preparation for the upcoming year. Then they decorate the house with red decorations such as lanterns, paint and paper
cuttings.


Traditional foods
Same with our conventional New Year’s Eve dinner, Chinese families also cook traditional foods to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Since it is a long celebration for the Chinese, many families rotate celebrations between homes of their relatives. The festivies are day-long and sometimes, a family ends up cooking two meals for their relatives, once at lunch and once at dinner. The most common foods you will see during the Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner are chicken, duck or pork dishes, Eight Treasures Rice, rice ball or Won Ton soup and rice cakes. Dumplings and fish are also served during dinner as they both symbolize prosperity.

Kiong Hee Huat Tsai everyone and we wish you prosperity for the Year of the Goat!



Maria Celeste Abellana
Contributor - Lifestyle



Sources:
http://www.chinesenewyears.info/chin...traditions.php
http://www.history.com/topics/holida...ear-traditions
http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2015.htm