Lunar New Year--Custom

Li Shi 利是--Lucky Packages

 

 
Li Shi (a red envelop filled with money) is a must for the Spring Festival. During the festival, people will go and pay a New Year call to friends and relatives to send wishes to each other. This lucky package will be delivered by seniors (usually the married ones) to juniors. It is the envelope itself, rather than the money inside that the people care about during this festive period.

Xing Da Yun 行大运—Get out and grasp the good luck
 

                                                                          [ycwb.com]

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, locals like to take a walk outside. In Cantonese, this is called Xing Da Yun (行大运) and it means that if you go out on that day, you'll have good luck for the whole year. It's no day for sitting inside watching TV.

Mai Lan 卖懒--Sell the Laziness

The Cantonese can sell anything and, on Lunar New Year's Eve, children will carry a lantern with an egg and "arrowhead" (a wetland perennial plant), strolling through the neighborhood singing, "Sell my laziness. I want to sell my laziness on the eve of Lunar New Year..." In ancient times, people believed that selling their laziness would refresh people and make them more diligent. 

 

 

Denglong 灯笼--Lantern

We're seeing more and more red lanterns lately, not only in the big shopping malls, but also in houses. And not just traditional Chinese ones, but Palace style, Tibetan style and Japanese styles are also glowing bright!

 

Chunlian 春联--New Year couplets/ spring festival scrolls

New Year couplets are used to frighten away devils and pray for good fortune. Most scrolls are red, some are orange with wishes inscribed in black or gold.

 

 
 

 
 Bianpao 鞭炮--Firecracker

The thunder of firecrackers marks the advent of the Lunar New Year. In the past, at midnight, citizens would let off firecrackers and scraps of red paper were left on the ground across the entire neighborhood reminding you that another new year was coming. In recent years, explosive incidents involving firecrackers have led to a ban. However, children in the countryside can still enjoy traditional firecrackers.

Da Sao Chu 大扫除
--Clean the house

According to old customs, on the 28th day of the last month of a year (lunar calendar), the house should be cleaned to embrace the coming new year. In Chinese, the chen (尘, meaning dust) shares the same pronunciation with chen (陈, meaning old). Therefore, cleaning the house means getting rid of the old and bad, and welcoming the new and good.

New Clothes 新衣服

The beginning of a year doesn't go by without new clothes, especially for the children. After the Reunion Dinner, kids will don their new outfits and run around the neighborhood to "show off" their beautiful new look.

Feng Che 风筝--Windmill

Locals say windmills bring good fortune to the family. The good luck they bring will last for the whole year.

Xiang Mao and You Zi Pi 香茅和柚子皮--Citronella and peel of shaddock

On the eve of the Lunar New Year, local people take baths with boiled water that contains citronella and peel of shaddock. They believe that the water will keep away misfortune.

(Written by Carrot Chan and Proofread by Alan Devey, David Kellaway and Kimberly Barteau)

Source: www.lifeofguangzhou.com

Editor: Carrot Chan