Chinese New Year Customs

General cleaning: On the 28th day of the year, every household cleans the house in order to get rid of the bad luck of the old year and welcome the new year.

Posting Spring Festival couplets and waving spring scrolls: Couplets, also known as Spring Festival couplets, have many types, but they generally include couplets and spring strips. Each couplet has a horizontal stripe and the word "福", and a spring strip with the word "everything goes well" is affixed to the appropriate place, such as on the doorpost. In fact, because Spring Festival couplets (including couplets and spring strips) were written by special persons with brushes (brushes) in ancient times, they are commonly known as "Hui Chun". In Guangdong, spring strips are called Huichun, which is different from Spring Festival couplets. On the twenty-ninth day of the year, in order to express the new year, new weather, and increase the atmosphere of the New Year. Some families put Spring Festival couplets on both sides of the door, and horizontal drapes on the lintel. Some people also paste red papers with the words "福" and "春" on them indoors and outdoors, and even put these words upside down to express "luck has arrived" and "spring has arrived."

Buying New Year’s goods: Supplies and food for the New Year are also the most important business during the New Year.

Steamed rice cakes: New Year's Eve, commonly known as "New Year's Eve", is the last day of the lunar calendar every year. At this time, every household is busy steaming rice cakes. "New Year Cake" has an auspicious meaning and symbolizes prosperity every year. Housewives must also pay attention to the skills of steaming rice cakes, because the success or failure of steaming rice cakes is related to the fortune in the coming year.

New Year’s Eve dinner: On New Year’s Eve, after worshiping ancestors, the family eats New Year’s Eve dinner together to express family reunion. The Chinese also call this custom around the stove, because ancient people ate around the stove. Among the dishes that night, the fish must not be eaten all, but there must be some leftover, which means "more than enough every year."

New Year's money: Also known as "New Year's money" and "red envelopes", it is called "profit market" in Guangdong. After the New Year's Eve dinner, the elders will give out lucky money to the younger generations so that everyone can seek good luck.

Watching the New Year: On New Year's Eve, the family sits together, chats, stays up all night, and prays for the longevity of their parents, also known as "Longevity Night".

Set off firecrackers: "The sound of firecrackers heralds the old year." The sound of firecrackers means that the old year has passed and the new year has arrived. Legend has it that "Nian" is a terrible monster. The purpose of setting off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year is to scare away the man-eating New Year beast and protect the safety of the family.

Wear new clothes and new shoes: From clothes and hats to shoes and socks, everything is brand new, which means everything is renewed. For children, this is particularly exciting.

Sacrificing ancestors and gods is something to do on the morning of the first day of the Spring Festival. Pray for the safety of believers and descendants.

Making dumplings: Eat dumplings as the first meal of the New Year. The shape of the dumplings is like a large gold and silver ingot in ancient times. Eating dumplings has a trick

It means making money. If there are coins in the dumplings, it means you will get rich in the new year.

New Year greetings: On the first day of the Lunar New Year, every household goes to the homes of relatives and friends to "greet the New Year". Everyone meets each other and congratulates each other, saying: "Congratulations on getting rich!" and wishing each other good luck and good health in the new year.

Tooth making: On the second day of the Lunar New Year, business people usually offer sacrifices to the Lord of the Land.

Receive the God of Wealth: On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, receiving the God of Wealth early in the morning is a good omen for hard work.

New Year's Eve: On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, most merchants choose an auspicious day to open their business and resume normal business. The boss distributed a "start-of-work red envelope" to all employees to seek good luck.

Flower Lantern Appreciation: On the Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, there are activities such as flower appreciation and lantern riddle guessing, which is very lively.

Dragon dance: also known as "dragon lantern dancing" and "dragon lantern dance", it has been popular in China for a long time. The dragon symbolizes power, dignity and auspiciousness. People believe that the dragon controls rainfall, and dancing the dragon can guarantee good weather and a good harvest in the coming year. It is a form of expression on every festive occasion.

Lion dance: also called "lion dancing" or "lion dance". There are many different forms of lion dance, which can be roughly divided into two types: northern lion dance and southern lion dance. People believe that lions can ward off evil spirits, ward off ghosts, and bring good fortune to the house. Every Spring Festival, gongs and drums are played in every household, and lion dances are performed to celebrate the New Year, which has auspicious meanings. Chinese people like to be lively, and this folk custom can add to the joyful atmosphere of the festival.