Chinese New Year is the most important traditional holiday in China. Sometimes named the Lunar New Year.
This holiday lasts 15 days and there are many exciting things during this New Year. There are lots of things to do on this holiday. However there is a traditional way to celebrate. Follow this guide to find how to properly celebrate this holiday.
Step 1
Research the holiday. This means to find out why we have Chinese New Year, the meaning of it, and other stuff. Chinese New Year is like everybody's birthday, as so they say. It is full of good fortune, decoration, and excitement. However, it is essential to celebrate this holiday traditionally, no hot dogs, or alcohol. This holiday is extremely important to Chinese culture and it is important to know the true meaning of Chinese New Year.
Step 2
Clean your home. Doing so will supposedly "sweep away the bad luck" accumulated over the past year and get ready for the good luck to come in. You could also put away dustpans and brooms so the good luck may not be swept away. However, keep fresh and hygienic; maybe even a haircut will do.
Step 3
Decorate your home. That most recommended is to use lots of red, since red is a color or symbol of good luck in Chinese culture. The number "8" also symbolizes good luck and wealth. In Chinese it rhymes with fortune, or wealth. Decorate as much as you can, but do not overdo it. Remember the meaning of the decorations, to bring life and fortune from the bright and colorful decorations. You may also place flowers through the house, like lotuses. These symbolize rebirth and new growth.
Step 4
Do not clean your home during the New Year, such as sweeping or wiping the windows. Doing so will "sweep away" the good luck that you received during the New Year. Yes, not cleaning for 13 to 15 days may be a dirty business, but it is part of the tradition and it is important to follow it.
Step 5
Offer a sacrifice to the Kitchen God. Yes it may have a funny name; however, it is like all gods and should be worshipped. Good behavior should be used so that he will make a "good report when he goes back to Heaven." Many families have a large poster of him in their kitchen.
Step 6
Have a traditional dinner on New Year's Eve. This is one of the most important part of the holiday. Dumplings are a very important dish because of their resemblance to a tael. Many place a coin in their dumplings, and whoever receives it is ought to have good luck and fortune. Fish is also served throughout the holiday. If you do not like fish, try dumplings, or other Chinese dishes. Oranges and tangerines are also given out throughout the New Year to bring wealth and good fortune. Other foods include other dumplings, or sweets. The sweets are arranged in a box with different candies, or dried fruit and such.
Step 7
Wear the proper clothing. Wear traditional Chinese clothing and a lot of red. Red, again, symbolizes good luck, wealth, and good fortune. Wear a lot of it. Another color is gold. Do not wear too much black, as it symbolizes bad luck and possibly death. Remember that Chinese New Year is a year of good fortune and life!
Step 8
Set off firecrackers. These are loud, banging fireworks that are mostly lit on the ground. The loud noises are to scare the bad spirits away, so they do not bring bad luck.
Step 9
Go visit a parade. Parades are full of excitement! Firecracker, activities, and much more! All of the time, there are people who are disguised in dragons and lions. A dragon, rather then being a scary creature in most countries, it is worshipped in China. It symbolizes almost China itself. A five clawed dragon is worn by emperors on their clothes and wear yellow. You can wear it too, it is not against the law anymore! The lions and dragons also scare off the bad spirits like firecrackers. They are decorated beautifully and are a sight worth seeing.
Step 10
If you have a religion, pray, pray, pray! This include praying to the dead. This should only be done on a certain day, which is devoted to praying. You also pray to different Gods that China worships.
Step 11
Pass red envelopes to children. Usually, the married give red envelopes filled with money or treats. The red color was meant to scare evil spirits away. They are usually given to the unmarried from the married.
Step 12
Visit your relatives and friends! That's the most important part of the new year. And bring Angpau, which is the red envelopes with you, to pass to children.
Step 13
No quarrels and fights during New Year. It's just the same thing as bad as wearing black.
Step 14
Greet people with good words like:, "Gung hay Fat Choy"/ "Gong Xi Fa Chai" which mean Happy New Year in Mandarin Chinese.
