Lunar New Year Traditions
The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring festival, is a major event in most East Asian countries. Lunar New Year celebrations are held around the world to celebrate the New Year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Traditionally, the Lunar New Year is a time to honour gods/goddesses and it has become a time to feast and visit family members. The Lunar New Year traditionally lasts about two weeks in total from Lunar New Year’s Eve to Lantern Festival held on the 15th day of the lunar year. There are many traditions that many Asian families do or participate in to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Clean and Decorating Houses with Red Objects
Before the Spring Festival, people give their houses a thorough cleaning to sweep away the bad luck of the preceding year. The cleaning process makes their homes ready to receive good luck. Red is the main colour for the festival which denotes prosperity and energy which wards off evil spirits and negativity.
Offering Sacrifices to Ancestors
Many families visit their ancestors’ graves on the day before Lunar New Year. They would offer sacrifices to ancestors before reunion dinner to show they are letting their ancestors “eat” first.
Family Reunion Dinner on Lunar New Year’s Eve
In the run-up to the New Year, China experiences one of the largest migrations seeing hundreds of million people travelling to their hometowns for family reunions and New Year’s celebrations. The Lunar New Year’s Eve dinner is called “reunion dinner”. Big families of several generations sit around round tables and enjoy food and time together. There are many lucky foods that families eat to bring in the upcoming New Year, check out my Lucky Foods and their Meanings post.
Exchanging Red Envelopes and Other Gifts
Traditionally red envelopes or red packets containing money are often given to children and seniors. The number of money ranges but Chinese superstitions favour amount that being with even numbers such as 8 (homophone for “wealth”) and 6 (homophone for “smooth”), except for the number 4 as it rhymes with a word that means “death”. Other gifts include alcohol, tea, fruits, and candies.
Watching Lion and Dragon Dances
Lion dances and dragon dances are widely seen during the Lunar New Year Period. They perform to bring prosperity and good luck for the upcoming year.
Setting Off Firecrackers and Fireworks
Firecrackers and fireworks are set off to scare away evil spirits and welcome the New Year.