Chinese New Year Customs & Traditions for First Time Celebrators

Never celebrated Chinese New Year before, but want to start? There are many customs and traditions you can incorporate into your home, without being overwhelmed by the newness. They include symbolic cleaning, dumplings, simple gifts and lanterns.

Traditional Chinese New Year Preparation and Decoration

It is Chinese New Year tradition to thoroughly clean the house. This symbolizes the sweeping out of miss fortune and the wishful invitation to good luck. If you cannot give your house a thorough cleaning, at least sweep the floors well. This will stay in keeping with the symbolism of the custom.

Giving window frames and doors a new coat of paint, typically red, are also Chinese New Year customs. If you do not wish to paint, you can still participate in the decorating part of this custom. Use cutouts of Chinese characters in a theme. Common ones are for happiness, wealth and any other blessings you wish upon your family. You can also continue the them into the house, by hanging related paintings.

You can also decorate your home with other traditional Chinese New Year items. These include brightly colored flowers, such as plum blossoms. Hang 'spring couplets' around the home. These are curled or square pieces of paper, marked with blessings. Use words such as "wealth" and "good health."

Chinese New Years' Eve Customs

It is tradition to have a feast on the eve of Chinese New Year. Most New Years' feasts include jiaozi, a dumpling boiled in water. Check here for jiaozi recipes. The whole family sits up all night, passing the time by watching television or playing board games. It is custom to leave every light in the house on.

Fireworks are let off at midnight. This Chinese New Year tradition symbolizes many things. They are said to bang loud enough to wake up the dragon, causing it to fly and bring in rain.

The morning after Chinese New Year's eve, children are given cash in red envelopes. After that, it is tradition to visit your family, then all of your neighbors.

A lantern festival customarily marks the end of Chinese New Year. if there is not one you can attend locally, festoon your house with paper lanterns. Small paper lanterns can be purchased for a dollar, for a two pack, at discount stores.

Sources:

http://www.123chinesenewyear.com/traditions/

http://www.123chinesenewyear.com/chinese-new-year-firecrackers.html

http://chinesefood.about.com/od/dimsumdumplings/r/jiaozi.htm