Chinese New Year, also known as the Chinese Spring Festival, is the most significant holiday in China.The first fifteen days of the Chinese lunar calendar last from January 21 to February 21 on the Western calendar.The celebrations include decorations, parades, folk traditions and a wonderful feast.There are many things you can do to participate in the celebrations and pay homage to Chinese traditions.
Step 1: Take care of your home.
The belief is that cleaning the house at this time of year will sweep away the bad luck that has accumulated inside over the past year.Good luck will start entering again if the house is cleaned.A new haircut is a good way to keep fresh and sanitary.Don't clean your home after the new year starts.To get rid of the good luck you've just received, is to "sweep away" it.If you can't wait that long, you will be relieved of cleaning duties over the next fifteen days.
Step 2: Red decorations should be put up.
Red is the color of good luck in Chinese culture and is often used for new year decorations.The Chinese character for eight rhymes with wealth and good luck.Place paper cutouts on the window.The cutouts depict scenes from rural life or Chinese mythology and are usually put up on the south and north facing windows.There are paintings and artwork for Chinese New Year.Animals and fruit are included in images of health and bounty.If you want to fight off evil spirits and bless your house, you could include a "door god" image on your door.Hang up couplets as a decoration.You can buy Chinese calligraphy on red paper or write your own couplets.Paper lanterns are a great way to decorate.During Chinese New Year, these are one of the most popular decorations.For a change of pace, paint your door, door frame, or window panes red.
Step 3: There are more decorations to arrange.
Bowls of food, flowers, and other treats complement the crafts and artwork.Place flowers in the house.There are lotus flowers that symbolize rebirth and new growth.Place mandarin oranges in bowls.For the New Year, mandarins with their leaves still intact are the fruits of happiness.Good luck comes from eating in pairs and using an even number.There are eight candies in the tray.A lucky number is eight.You can use any treats for your tray or traditional Chinese candies made from lotus seeds, longan, peanuts, coconut, red melon seed, or candied melon.
Step 4: Remove the Kitchen God from your life.
The Jade Emperor is said to be told about the household by the Kitchen God seven days before the New Year.Offer him a sacrifice of fruit, candy, water, or other food if you keep on your best behavior.Some people burn a picture of the Kitchen God to send him to heaven.When the Jade Emperor comes to check up on the Kitchen God's report, people traditionally prepare bean curd or tofu two days later to demonstrate their thrift.Tofu can be used as a substitute for this tradition.
Step 5: It's time to dress for the occasion.
This is a good time to wear traditional Chinese clothing.Silk clothing can be purchased in Chinatown.Red clothes are associated with joy, happiness, good luck, wealth and good fortune and will ensure that you are fully participating in the spirit of the celebrations.Combine the two colors of gold for a festive look.Don't wear too much black during the celebration period.Black is a symbol of bad luck and death.This is a good time to be alive.
Step 6: There is a Chinese temple.
Chinese people head to temples to pray for good fortune during the New Year celebrations.They have their fortunes told when they burn incense sticks.People not of Chinese descent are welcome at most temples.Near the entrance to the temple, there is a tube of fortune sticks.Ask a question and shake the tube.One of the fortune tellers can tell you what it means.
Step 7: Don't set off fireworks.
New Year's fireworks can be set off at midnight.In China and Hong Kong, fireworks are mostly lit on the ground.The loud noises scare the bad spirits away so they don't bring bad luck.Many people set off fireworks for the entire fifteen days, or at least the first four to eight days before they have to return to work.There will be a lot of noise and excitement if you live in a Chinese community.Some countries and regions don't allow personal fireworks, but you may be able to watch an official fireworks display.
Step 8: Red envelopes are used to give gifts of money.
Children are given lucky envelopes of money.Sometimes they are given to friends as well.
Step 9: It's important to honor your ancestors.
Show your appreciation for what your ancestors have done for you.If you want to follow them, you can either bow to a shrine dedicated to them or offer them food and drink as a sacrifice.
Step 10: In a positive way, interact with others.
It's important to spread goodwill during Chinese New Year because it is a time of happiness and good fortune.Don't have arguments, fights, or negative attitudes during the new year.Bad luck will be brought to you by these.Share the New Year with your family and friends when you visit.Discuss what happened in the previous year, your plans for the coming one, and just enjoy your time together."Gong Xi," pronounced "gong zee," was used by other celebrants.This means that you have been successful.There are longer greetings in Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese.
Step 11: There are Chinese cooking and food traditions.
New Year's Eve is when the main feast is usually held.There are many traditional dishes, but there are some that have special meaning.Good luck comes from red chilies.There is harmony with the use of rice.A lot of small animals are served whole and cut at the table.This reminds us of our strength.
Step 12: You can make nian gao for the Lantern Festival.
The fifteenth day of Chinese New Year is when these are eaten.During Chinese New Year, any type of dumpling can play a special role because of their shape, which resembles ancient Chinese gold or silver ingots.
Step 13: You can cook your own feast.
Chinese New Year: Cook Chinese dumplings is a good time to try these delicious recipes.You can celebrate prosperity with generous portions of cabbage or radish.If you like, you can hide a coin in one of the dumplings for someone to find.You can make your own spring rolls.This is a great time to eat spring rolls because they are named after the Spring Festival.It's a good idea to serve a lot of fish.A sign of prosperity is fish.It's good luck to serve the fish whole.You can Fry your own pot stickers.Any pot sticker is welcome at a Chinese New Year feast.Chinese noodles are served in peanut sauce.Long, uncut noodles can be served with any sauce.Shrimp can be cooked with Chinese lobster sauce.There are many Chinese recipes you can use, from traditional Chinese cooking to Chinese American inventions.Tea eggs can be decorated.There is no special connection between these and New Year, but they are a unique Chinese treat that serves as decoration and a snack at the same time.
Step 14: There is a parade in your area.
You can find information about the Chinese New Year Parade in your local newspaper.These are sometimes held on a nearby weekend instead of New Year's Day itself, or even slightly outside the New Years period altogether.If you live in an area that celebrates the Spring Festival in the wintertime, dress warmly and remember your camera.San Francisco has an annual Chinese New Year parade that is said to be the largest and oldest outside of Asia.
Step 15: You can watch a parade online.
Local or regional television broadcasts large parades in the United States.Hundreds of millions of viewers watch the annual midnight Spring Festival Gala on China Central Television.
Step 16: There are special dances that you should keep an eye on.
Chinese New Year parades are a rare opportunity to see costumed dragon dancers and lion dancers.The dragon dancers hold poles to support a long, vibrant dragon.In Chinese mythology, dragons are revered as symbols of the nation and people.Two lion dancers are wearing a costume.The lion is a powerful, majestic character in Chinese mythology, but the dance often includes comic elements, such as a silly monk who helps the lion track down a lettuce.Traditional Chinese drumming accompanies both dances.
Step 17: The Lantern Festival is celebrated.
The fifteenth day of Chinese New Year is celebrated with a lot of decorative paper lanterns.Some cities use lanterns to create art.People write riddles on a lantern for children to solve.Traditional sweet dumplings are filled with all kinds of ingredients.These are called yogurts.On this day, put candles up.