Do you know the Top 10 Reasons Why We Celebrate the Chinese New Year? Accordingly, Chinese New Year is also known as Spring Festival and it is a collection of vibrant celebrations and ancient traditions. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture as it is marked by a rich tapestry of customs and rituals believed to bring good luck and prosperity for the year ahead. So, the World’s #1 Source of Research-Based Content, The Daily Top 10 thought to share with you the Top 10 Chinese New Year Traditions That Will Bring Real Luck.
According to our Top 10 Best Places to Celebrate Chinese New Year in Asia Post, Chinese New Year typically falls between late January and mid-February. Most interestingly, it is a time for family reunions, joyful festivities, and wishes for good fortune and prosperity. In addition, it is a time of renewal, hope, and the celebration of heritage. Most of the communities come together to honor their ancestors, pay respect to the gods, and welcome the arrival of a new year filled with hope and promise during the Chinese New Year.
Now we are going to share with you the Top 10 Chinese New Year Traditions That Will Bring Real Luck. For more details, we hope you will also refer to the Top 10 Best Places to Celebrate Chinese New Year in the World.
What is the Best Chinese New Year Tradition That Will Bring Real Luck?
As we discussed earlier in our Top 10 Most Interesting Facts About Chinese Culture Post, Chinese New Year traditions are deeply rooted in Chinese culture. Especially, people believe that these traditions bring luck and prosperity for the coming year. Do you know that these beliefs and traditions vary across different regions in China and among communities around the world?
So, now let’s take a look at the Best Chinese New Year Tradition That Will Bring Real Luck. But before that, go through all the other traditions on our list. So, join us to discover the secrets to a prosperous and fortunate year!
TOP 10: Lighting Firecrackers
According to China Highlights, fireworks are usually used to drive away the evil that comes with bad luck. Exactly at midnight on New Year’s Eve, the Chinese celebrate the arrival of the New Year while driving away evil by launching fireworks. The most important fact to share with you here is that they believe the person who launches the first firework of the New Year will have good luck.
Lighting firecrackers is a habit of Chinese New Year which dates back thousands of years. As it has both cultural and symbolic significance, here’s how firecrackers are believed to bring luck during Chinese New Year:
- Scaring away evil spirits
- Welcoming the new year
- Invoking good fortune
- Community spirit
TOP 9: Visiting Temples and Praying
Can you remember that we say, Asia is a region with numerous temples, through our Top 10 Best Places for First Time Travelers to Visit in Asia Post? Accordingly, visiting temples and engaging in prayer rituals during Chinese New Year is a cherished tradition. It carries a deep cultural, as well as a spiritual significance, as individuals flock to temples seeking blessings, guidance, and good fortune during the new year.
As stated in Culture Trip most of the community worshippers offer incense, light candles, and make symbolic offerings in temples. Most importantly, people connect with their cultural heritage while deepening their spiritual connection during the day. So, it is a time of reflection, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to personal growth.
TOP 8: Wear Red and Red Decorations
Do you love red? If so, you are lucky as the color red holds immense significance and is associated with luck, happiness, and prosperity. Accordingly, wearing red and decorating homes with red is a beloved tradition rooted in symbolism and cultural beliefs during Chinese New Year. The Conversation mentioned that people eagerly embrace this tradition, believing that it will usher in good fortune and ward off evil spirits.
Have you seen that every house is adorned with red lanterns, couplets, and paper cutouts for the festival, further magnifying the festive ambiance? With that, every corner, and every street that celebrates the days seems to come alive with a vibrant hue, infusing the surroundings with a sense of celebration and hope. The visual splendor of red serves as a reminder of the optimistic possibilities that the New Year holds while filling hearts with optimism and warmth. If you need more ideas for decorations, check out the Top 10 World’s Best Art and Design Trends in 2023.
TOP 7: Giving Red Envelopes
According to Arts and Culture, red envelopes are also known as “hongbao” in Chinese. It is a gesture of good luck and blessings for the upcoming year and they are typically given as gifts to children, unmarried adults, and even employees. As one of the most popular Chinese New Year traditions, red envelopes symbolize good luck, prosperity, and blessings for the recipient.
Have you ever seen or received a red envelope? They are decorated with various designs and they often feature Chinese characters or symbols representing good fortune. These envelopes usually contain money, preferably in crisp, new banknotes. The fun fact about these envelopes is, the amount ends in an even digit, as odd numbers are associated with funerals and considered unlucky in Chinese culture.
TOP 6: Cleaning
Cleaning is indeed one of the most important traditions associated with the Chinese New Year. Chinese communities believe that before the arrival of the Chinese New Year, they should clean their houses to sweep away any bad luck coming from the previous year. Aspen Clean says, cleaning the house represents their preparation for a fresh start in the new year.
They usually start cleaning their houses a few days before Chinese New Year’s Eve and they finish cleaning before New Year’s Eve. Do you need to know the reason behind that? It is because they believe sweeping or cleaning on New Year’s Day is like sweeping away the newly arrived good luck. After cleaning, it is common to decorate windows and doors with red couplets to symbolize good fortune and ward off evil spirits.
TOP 5: Prepare Tangerine and Oranges
As mentioned in Taste of Home, tangerines and oranges are bright and citrusy fruits that hold significant symbolic meaning, representing good luck, prosperity, and abundance. They usually select fresh tangerines and oranges very carefully because their vibrant colors and firm textures embody the promise of a fruitful year ahead. And they believe that if they add decorations such as red ribbons and gold foils to these fruits, they can enhance their auspiciousness automatically.
During the Chinese New Year, they arrange the oranges and tangerines in groups of eight or nine. Can you guess the reason for that? Eight and nine are considered lucky numbers and they share them with loved ones and guests. Not only keeping in the home but also this act of sharing the tangerines and oranges is also a gesture of goodwill that conveys blessings and the hope for a prosperous and joyous year.
TOP 4: Preparing Lucky Foods
Do you know the Top 10 Traditional Foods to Serve During Isra’ and Mi’ raj Night? Similarly, Chinese New Year has the consumption of lucky foods because they are believed to bring good fortune and prosperity for the coming year. One of the most popular lucky food is dumplings. Do you know dumplings? They resemble ancient Chinese silver ingots and represent wealth.
In addition, Noodles, with their long and unbroken strands, are believed to bring longevity and long life. At the same time, fish are often served whole as they symbolize surplus and prosperity. As we discussed before, oranges and tangerines are exchanged and displayed as they sound similar to the words for “luck” and “wealth” in Chinese. Moreover to these, according to The Foodellers, sticky rice cakes are enjoyed for their homophonous pronunciation of “higher year,” as they symbolize progress and advancement.
TOP 3: Turn on All the Lights and Open the Windows
As reported by Rapport Translations, turning on all the lights and opening the windows can be seen as a symbolic tradition to welcome good luck, positive energy, and prosperity into the home during the Chinese New Year. According to the belief, you can invite auspicious energies and drive away any negative influences from the previous year by illuminating the space and letting fresh air circulate.
Regarding this tradition, you can decorate your home with red lanterns, string lights, and candles. In addition, turn on all the lights in your home, including ceiling lights, lamps, and any other decorative lighting you have. By following this tradition, you will see a radiant glow and a vibrant festive atmosphere during the days.
TOP 2: Hang New Year’s Couplets
Hanging New Year’s couplets holds deep cultural significance during the festival season. As same as the other traditions, it is believed to bring blessings, good fortune, and prosperity for the coming year. The couplets have a vibrant red color symbolizing joy and auspiciousness. In addition, they write phrases on couplets that convey wishes for a prosperous and harmonious year ahead.
As China Admissions highlights, this decoration becomes a popular inspiration and reflects those who pass by as it evokes a sense of unity. Most importantly, at the end of the festivities, the couplets are respectfully taken down and replaced with regular decorations. So, this not only celebrates cultural heritage but also serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of family, and it brings a prosperous future.
TOP 1: Worshiping Elders and Ancestors
Worshiping Elders is indeed a significant tradition during Chinese New Year and it is the Best Chinese New Year Tradition That Will Bring Real Luck. It is a way to honor and show respect for one’s lineage and heritage. This practice is very important for people of all ages because it reflects the deep-rooted value of filial piety, which is highly regarded in Chinese culture.
Nations Online describes that all families are often gathering together to pay respects to their ancestors and elders during the New Year. The worshipping ceremony usually begins with the lighting of incense sticks and the offering of food and other items to the ancestors. Moreover, to honor ancestors, this celebration is also an occasion to show respect and gratitude to living elders.
What are the Best Chinese New Year Traditions That Will Bring Real Luck?
Accordingly, Chinese New Year traditions will go from generation to generation, not changing their deep symbolism and cultural significance. So, they not only give the festive atmosphere but also serve as a means to usher in good luck and blessings for the New Year. With that, we can surely say that, by embracing these traditions, one can truly experience the magic and auspiciousness that the Chinese New Year brings, ensuring real luck.
Here is the list of the Top 10 Best Chinese New Year Traditions That Will Bring Real Luck:
- Worshiping Elders and Ancestors
- Hang New Year’s Couplets
- Turn on All the Lights and Open the Windows
- Prepare Lucky Foods
- Prepare Tangerines and Oranges
- Cleaning
- Giving Red Envelopes
- Wear Red and Red decorations
- Visiting Temples and Praying
- Light Firecrackers
So, our article shed light on some unique facts about Chinese New Year, serving as a reminder that there is always more to discover and learn from the Daily Top 10. To stay updated with a plethora of unique content like the Top 10 Nutritious Foods That You Should be Eating Every Day, Top 10 Most Important Safety Tips for Swimming With Your Dog, and the Top 10 World’s Most Expensive Radio Ad Campaigns of All Time. So, we invite you to join our website by subscribing to our Newsletter, where we provide daily updates on various subjects!
Author: Saumya M.
Saumya M. is a passionate content writer known for her impeccable storytelling and research. She has covered topics ranging from travel and lifestyle to entertainment, community, and education. She helps people live their best lives and reach their full potential.
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