How to Have a Lucky New Year: A Practical Guide

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"But they're beautiful" — Vilina

Chinese New Years Decor

I looked longingly at a pair of boots—they were on sale, too! But I couldn't get them, because the moment fell within the 16-day time frame of Chinese New Year's, and shoes make the list of New Year's taboos.

We've arrived at Act II of this multi-series post about Chinese New Year, and we're going to mix things up. No recipes today—just a short and sweet listicle to help you properly celebrate the Year of the Monkey. 

PREPARE (JAN. 31–FEB. 6)

  • Clean your home—it's referred to as "sweeping of the dust"—with the beliefs of bidding farewell to the old and creating a welcoming space for the new Chi. 
     
  • Decorate your home with red couplets, known as spring couplets. Commonly placed on either side of a door frame (Mamma Li likes placing them on each side of our fireplace), they are believed to ward away evil as the characters bid best wishes to the home. Spring couplets are paired phrases of seven Chinese characters written in black ink on red paper. Other decor includes red lanterns, red paper cut-outs, or New Year's painting.
     
  • Place tangerines or clementines in each room of your home, symbolizing abundance and good fortune. 
     
  • Swipe your credit card—it's time to go shopping for new clothes, preferably in red, and get your hair cut! You should also be buying all your New Year's food and snacks. 
Chinese New Years Couplet

CHINESE NEW YEAR'S EVE (FEB. 7)

  • Dine with family and friends. This is the meal—think Thanksgiving and Christmas combined—where every dish has a symbolic meaning meant to bring good luck and fortune to the eater. 

  • Give, or in my case receive ;), lucky money! This custom varies regionally, but in my family married couples provide singles with singles, regardless of age. Money is placed in red envelopes because it's believed to turn the money lucky, hence the name. This tradition extends beyond Chinese New Year's. From birthdays to graduations, any time money is given, it must be in the red envelope. 

CHINESE NEW YEAR'S DAY (FEB. 8)

  • Set off fireworks and firecrackers at midnight, and just remember, the Chinese DID invent fireworks, so you can imagine how seriously we take this tradition.
     
  • Eat something sweet at midnight so you'll have nothing but good news for the year.

  • Offer sacrifices to ancestors—New Year's Day is the Chinese equivalent of Día de los Muertos. Usually there's an altar or table with photos where you burn incense and lay out sweets, clementines, and other fortune-filled food. You take several bows to pay your respects and show piety. Mom does this every year, paying respects to her parents.

  • Wear your new clothes and say gong hei fa choi to everyone, which means respectful joy and best wishes. 

CHINESE NEW YEAR'S TABOOS

  • Don't wash your hair or clothes until day three, else you'll be washing away good luck for the New Year.

  • Don't buy shoes or brooms for the duration of the celebration (16 days). Phonetically speaking, these words are similar to others with negative meanings, and will bring bad fortune to your home.

Nowadays the customs, particularly the taboos, are followed more for the sake of tradition then any real superstitious beliefs. Really, the root of the festivities centers around family, friends, and a good time—not so different from many other holidays.

Decor for Chinese New Years