These traditions hold meaningful purposes that signifies starting the year on a clean slate with a celebration, and by wishing others with positive messages like good health, luck and to have a prosperous year ahead. This dinner signifies the joy, bond and togetherness of a family, gathering everyone back to their family homes for a meal with an abundance of dishes on the table. Regardless of how rich or poor the family is, the Chinese believes that serving food in abundance during the reunion dinner will bless them with good fortune and luck in material wealth.
Families will prepare food that hold meaning to play around with words that sound similar yet hold different meanings to symbolize the blessings they want to receive into their lives. Promo valid till 1st March Hence, leeks are commonly served in Chinese New Year feasts to symbolise an abundance of wealth , i.
I t is usually served in a large casserole or traditional clay pot filled with luxurious ingredients such as abalones, fish maw, sea cucumber, prawns and many more. To usher in the new year, the Chinese wear new clothes and sometimes sport fresh hairdos. Thus many local salons usually charge a premium for services during this period.
The Lunar New Year is traditionally ushered in at 11 pm, but many families, especially those in Singapore, have adopted 12 am as the norm. This event is of sociological significance as it is a means to ensure the solidarity of the family and its cohesiveness. This day is set aside for this purpose as it is considered shameful for one to start a new year with unpaid debts.
The other two days for settling debts are the fifth day of the fifth lunar month Dragon Boat Festival and the 15th day of the eighth lunar month Mid-Autumn Festival.
After closing accounts for the year, traditional Chinese bosses may hand out bonuses to their workers. Many children also do this to convey their new year wishes to their parents early in the morning.
Some Chinese believe that the longer the children stay awake, the longer their lives or the lives of their parents. In return, the young ones get a hongbao — traditional red packets containing money — before going to bed.
They consult the almanac for the most favourable hour and direction to receive this deity, usually between 11 pm and 6 am the next morning. Hongbao are given by parents to their children, as well as elders to those who are unmarried and younger than them. Other relatives and visitors also give hongbao to any child present. Visits to homes during Chinese New Year are usually accompanied by the exchange of Mandarin oranges.
When visiting someone during Chinese New Year, a pair or pairs of oranges should be presented to the head of the household. They will then return this gesture during the festive period.
For employees, the weiya feast is not only a sumptuous meal, but also a bonus for their hard work during the year. The second day is also traditionally a time for married women to visit their maiden homes and renew ties with their families. To help you acquaint yourself with the holiday, we spell out some Chinese New Year traditions here:.
The higher you go, the greater your luck! During Chinese New Year, wishing trees pop up around Singapore and revellers can choose to write their wishes on a piece of red ribbon. Toss this over the tree so that it can collect on the branches, remaining there for your wish to come true. This is a centuries old tradition and many variations have evolved over time. Lions are auspicious animals in traditional Chinese culture and so lion dances came about as a way to bring good luck to the community.
Traditionally, Chinese Households set off firecrackers during New Year to scare off bad spirits. However, this tradition is slowly fading away because many countries now ban firecrackers as they are deemed as hazardous materials.
Red is the colour of luck and fortune. It is also believed that red helps to scare away bad luck and will bring prosperity unto the wearer so many people like to wear this hue or other bright colours to go with the festive and upbeat mood of a new year.
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