Chinese New Year - Preparing for Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is coming up on Tuesday, February 5th.2019 is the Year of the Pig.

In anticipation of Chinese New Year, here are some tips on how you can prepare.

House-Cleaning

Beginning on January 28 2019, Chinese people carry out a thorough ‘winter-cleaning’ of their houses. This is called "sweeping away the dust", and represents a wish to put away old things, bid farewell to the old year, and welcome in the New Year.

New Year Shopping

Before New Year’s Eve, people buy New Year’s food and snacks, New Year’s decorations, and New Year’s clothes. Chinese New Year in China, like Christmas, is a boom time for shopping.

Chinese people may be thrifty most of the time, but they seem to spend generously during their traditional festivals. For example, they buy everyone new clothes for the festival, whether they need them or not. On the days leading up to the festival, there are many New Year’s street markets.

New Year's Eve  (Feb. 4, 2019)

Putting Up New Year Decorations

Although some people decorate their houses several days before the festival, most people do it on New Year's Eve. Houses are decorated with red lanterns and New Year’s paintings. 

Puting up those decorations are thought to keep evil away and pray for blessing, longevity, health, and peace. 2019 is the Year of the Pig, so pig images will appear on decorations. 

Offering Sacrifices to Ancestors

Offering sacrifices to ancestors shows respect. In addition, ancestral spirits are believed to protect their descendants and help them become prosperous.

Many worship on New Year's Eve, before the reunion dinner, to show that they are letting their ancestors "eat" first. Offerings of meat and wine are placed in front of the shrine/grave.

Enjoying a Reunion Dinner

Chinese try very hard to make this family event, often traveling long distances. 

Big families including several generations sit at round tables and enjoy the food and time together. Dishes with lucky meanings must be included in the dinner such as fish, dumplings, niangao (sticky rice cake),and spring rolls. 

Giving Red Envelopes (Lucky Money) to Kids

Parents usually give their children red envelopes after the reunion dinner, wishing them health, growth, and good studies in the coming year. Money in red envelopes is believed to bring good luck, as red is China's lucky color, so it's called lucky money.

Staying Up Late

In the past, Chinese people used to stay up all night, but now most stay up only until the midnight firecrackers and fireworks die down.

Chinese New Year's Day (Feb. 5, 2019)

Chinese people believe that what they do on the first day of the lunar year will affect their luck during that year.

Putting on New Clothes and Extending New Year Greetings

On the first day of New Year, Chinese people put on new clothes, and say "gongxi" (恭喜/gong-sshee/literally ‘respectful joy’, meaning ‘greetings’ or ‘best wishes’), wishing each other good luck and happiness in the New Year. It is customary for the younger generation to visit their elders, and wish them health and longevity.

Watching Lion and Dragon Dances

Lion and dragon dances are also seen on New Year's Day.

Visiting Family

Children often visit their family in the week following Chinese New Year, especially their elders to pay respect.