How to Celebrate Chinese New Years Day

Chinese New Year is the most important and, at 15 days, the longest holiday in China. Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the lunar calendar, so it is also called Lunar New Year, and it is considered the beginning of spring, so it is also called Spring Festival. After ringing in the New Year on New Years Eve, revelers spend the first day of the Chinese New Year doing a variety of activities. Wear New Clothes Every member of the family starts the New Year off right with new clothes. From head to toe, all clothes and accessories worn on New Year’s Day should be brand new. Some families still wear traditional Chinese clothing like qipao but many families now wear regular, Western-style clothing like dresses, skirts, pants, and shirts on Chinese New Year’s Day. Many opt to wear lucky red underwear. Worship Ancestors The first stop of the day is the temple to worship ancestors and welcome the New Year. Families bring offerings of food such as fruit, dates, and candied peanuts and burn sticks of incense and stacks of paper money. Give Red Envelopes Family and friends distribute ç ´â€¦Ã¥Å'…, (hà ³ngbÄ o, red envelopes) filled with money. Married couples give red envelopes to unmarried adults and kids. Children especially look forward to receiving red envelopes which are given in lieu of gifts. Play Mahjong Mahjong (é º »Ã¥ °â€¡, mà ¡ jià  ng) is a fast-paced, four-player game played throughout the year but particularly during Chinese New Year. Learn all about mahjong  and how to play. Launch Fireworks Starting at midnight New Year’s Eve and continuing throughout the day, fireworks of all shapes and sizes are lit and launched. The tradition began with the legend of Nian, a ferocious monster that was afraid of red and loud noises. It is believed the noisy fireworks scared the monster. Now, it is believed the more fireworks and noise there are, the more luck there will be in the New Year. Avoid Taboos There are many superstitions surrounding Chinese New Year. The following activities are avoided by most Chinese on Chinese New Year’s Day: Breaking dishes bring bad luckGetting rid of trash sweeping away good fortuneScolding children signs of bad luckCrying signs of bad luckSaying inauspicious words signs of bad luckSweeping the floor bring bad luckWashing hair bring bad luck