The 2017 Chinese New Year is rather early this year, starting at the 28th of January on the Western Calendar. While we're entering the year of the chicken (or rooster) soon, read more about all the traditions, customs and superstitions in this post.
Traditionally, Chinese New Year has been the most important holiday in China. Because this break is also the longest, it's a good opportunity for Chinese people to visit their home town. As many work in other cities, it's often the only chance to meet up with family and friends this holiday, also known as the 'Spring Break'.
Parents tend to prepare lots of food at home or book a table at their favourite restaurants. Working sons and daughters prepare gifts and red envelopes (with money inside) for parents and kids. It's a break from the daily stress in cities and at the same time an emotional reunion.
Facts About Chinese New Year Customs and Traditions
Why is Chinese New Year Celebrated? The Spring Break is a many centuries old holiday and is of cultural importance due to several myths and traditions. Besides a reunion dinner when family gathers, it's tradition to honour ancestors. At the same time family members join together to clean the house in order to sweep away bad luck and create a foundation for a lucky new year.
Another way bad spirits are scared away is by performing Lion Dances. It's a believe that dancing lions in combination with gongs, fireworks and drums will bring luck in the new year. Thus, a Lion Dance is a must have during a New Year parade.
During the spring festival many cities are decorated with red lanterns, while homes are beautified with kumquat trees, peony flowers, red paper cuttings and good fortune signs. You might also see many red holiday cards from friends with their holiday wishes.
Chinese New Year Superstitions & Customs
Cleaning the House
Sweeping and dusting the house is common practice before the start of New Year. According to folk beliefs, ghosts and deities will choose to return to heaven. To ensure timely departure, the houses are thoroughly cleaned down to every last cupboard and drawer.
Today, not all Chinese are aware of such belief anymore. However, the house cleaning practice still continues for several reasons. First, many families in China life in separated in different cities. The younger generation go to first and second their cities such as Shanghai and Hangzhou to enjoy a better career perspective. The Chinese New Year period is often the only chance they have to return home. It therefore makes sense for parents to clean and prepare their house for the arrival of their children.
Secondly, the Spring Festival is also the off-season for farmers. This makes it a convenient time for their to clean the house and fix old interior.
Red Color
Red is the color of luck and fortune. Here's what you'll observe in red color during Chinese New Year:
- Red envelopes filled with money for children and parents.
- Red lanterns in the streets.
- Red couplets on the doors.
- Red animal dolls, depending on the which Zodiac animal the New Year will represent.
- Red underwear for people who're born in the same Zodiac year.
- Red bracelet: often a thin red cord with gold.
Disappearing Chinese New Year Traditions
Besides the superstitions above, there are also a few more traditions. Unfortunately, they're disappearing.
1. Worship the Kitchen God & God of Wealth
Above, we discussed that families clean their house to send off the gods and deities to heaven. One of those gods is the Kitchen God Zao Wang Ye (灶王爷). The kitchens must be cleaned thoroughly as this god would go to heaven to report how the family have behaved in the past year. The Chinese who believe in such superstitions would put up a picture of Zao Wang Ye in the kitchen and place cakes and other offerings in front of it. The idea is that the Kitchen God will then speak good (sweet words) about the family in heaven. In the evening, the image in the kitchen will be burned, so that he can ascend to heaven. On the 4th day of Spring Festival, incense and red paper are burned to welcome the god back.
Another god is the God of Wealth. He's worship in the New Year with images of him placed behind doors (to welcome the wealth). This god is nowadays even less worshipped than the Kitchen God. Mainly Chinese in some smaller villages still keep up the tradition. In the past, people offered pigs, chicken or fish to the god, but today it's more often a basket of fruits.
2. Stay Home on the Third Day of New Year
This custom is even more rare today. In the past, people tend to stay at home on the 3rd day of the New Year. Otherwise, you might meet the God of Anger and you'll have bad luck the rest of the year. It's a highly ignored custom, but anyways a good excuse for those who are tired of the celebrations and want to sleep in.
3. Firecrackers
Traditionally, Chinese Households set off firecrackers during New Year. However, since they're banned in many medium to large sized cities due to risk of fire. Thus, tradition is disappearing, though it's still common practice in smaller cities and rural areas.
Chinese New Year Gifts Ideas
Besides the usual red envelopes with money inside. There's also a lot of gift exchange going on. Gifts are prepared only when you visit family or friends at their home. The receiving doesn't need to prepare gifts, but takes care of the food and drinks. In certain regions, they also make sure the tea table is cleaned and prepared beautifully to serve tea in ceremony style to guests.
When visiting a family during Chinese New Year, we call this "拜年“. This literally means "worship the new year". Gifts that are often prepared include:
- Basket sets of fruits
- Chinese wine: popular brands include the traditional Maotai or Wu Liang Ye.
- Cigarettes: usually a foreign brand or the luxury Chinese Chunghua (or 'Chunghwa') brand.
- Chinese tea in tins
- Nutritional supplements for grand parents
Etiquette 1: buy high end brands
As you can see in the short list above, people tend to buy high end brands. It's a saving face kind of thing that's especially important among older generations. For example, above we mentioned that when you buy cigarrettes you should go for imported brands or the Chinese Chunghua brand.
Etiquette 2: go for healthy products
A common new year wish is that one wants to live more healthy. Not strange that many gift ideas come from this wish. We already mentioned a basket of fruits, tea and nutritional supplements above. Other healthy products can also be great gifts, such as dried herbs and nuts.
Etiquette 3: good packaging
During Chinese New Year, vendors often offer their products in New Year packaging. The size tend to be larger and they often come in red or gold color. Some younger generations aren't fond of this though, as they regard it as the 'old style'.
Etiquette 4: always buy in sets of 2
What most foreigners don't know is that the Chinese tend to buy the gifts in sets of 2. This number is special in the Chinese culture as it brings luck. Take for example the 'double happiness' character which is basically a combination of two 'happiness' characters together. This character is often used as decoration for during Chinese weddings.
For gifts, this 'double rule' is express in buying presents in sets of 2. If you buy wine, you'll have to buy 2 bottles. If you bring Chinese tea, then it will have to be 2 tins. Important to know, as you'll need to take this into consideration when planning your gift expenses.
The above rules might sound strange, as you might think that the budget doesn't matter. What's important is that a gift comes from the heart. You're completely right! We just want to share the etiquettes as they're valued in Chinese culture.
We hope this post was informative! If you've any other questions about this topic, feel free to write us a question in the comment section below.