New Year Traditions

Traditionally the Chinese New Year begins ten days before New Year's Day by cleaning and decorating the house. New Year's Greetings in the forms of cards and letters are sent to friends and family living far away. The entire family would get together to clean their homes from top to bottom so that they could begin the year clean and fresh in the hopes that the next year would be healthy and happy.Chinese couplets wishing good luck in the New Year are pasted on either side of the doors and the Chinese Character Fu is placed throughout the house. Another popular tradition is pasting colorful New Year's prints throughout the house. This ancient art form featuring beautiful colors and auspicious designs have recently made a comeback and can be seen throughout China.
Chinese papercuts are placed in the windows of homes. Flowers which have auspicious meanings are displayed throughout the house. Seven days before New Year's Day is celebrated with sacrifices to the Kitchen God. In China, almost every person returns to their hometown on New Year's Eve. In the evening a huge family reunion dinner is held with a lot of food. Many of the dishes symbolize good luck and fortune for the upcoming year. At the stroke of midnight families light fireworks and they can be heard for hours. In the early morning of New Year's Day each person in China puts on new clothing and cooks many dishes. The food is taken to pay homage to each family's ancestors.Ancestor worship is an important part of each Chinese New Year and it reminds each family member where they came from. Children are given hongbao (Red Envelopes) which contain money in the hopes that they will have wealth in the future. On the second day of The Chinese New Year, people go out to visit the wife's family. The first day of Spring Festival traditionally is spent with the husband's family. During the visit, more Hongbao are given to the children and many sweets, and food is shared. After visiting the in-laws, friends are visited. It is a great time to see family and friends that perhaps live far away and are rarely seen. The rest of the holiday is spent with friends and family. The last day of the Chinese New Year is the latern festival when each person goes to their hometown's parks, or downtown areas and look at the lantern displays held there.
Chinese New Year is looked forward by every person in China. It is a time of family, of celebration, and of fun. Children through the elderly take part in the festival and revel in the part they get to play. It is wonderful time of the year, which is filled with ancient traditions which are an integral part of the festival.