Chinese New Year Customs - Part 2
Everyone comes together for dinner which is a feast. A popular food is ‘jiaozi’ which are
dumplings boiled in water. These dumplings are prepared on New Years Eve and served right
after midnight with garlic-soy sauce. A coin is often hidden in one of them. It is thought
to be lucky to be the person who finds the coin. The dumplings are shaped like gold and
silver bars in the hope that they will bring good luck and good fortune. It is believed
that the spirits of the family’s ancestors are also at the meal and food is prepared for them.
After dinner the family sit up playing card games or board games such as Chinese chess.
Every light is supposed to be kept on until midnight when there are fireworks and
firecrackers which are meant to scare off evil spirits.
Early on New Years Day children receive lucky red packets called ‘Hong Bao’ containing
sweets or money. Chinese children love these.They are usually given them by their parents
or grandparents, but it is considered rude to open the envelopes in front of the person
who has given it. Again the red colour symbolises good luck and wealth. They often have
a picture of a fish them as the Chinese word for fish sounds the same as the word ‘plentiful’.
Later on the paper seals on the houses are broken, red clothes worn for luck and visits are
made to family and friends. It is a good time to be friendly to others and forget old arguments.
People greet each other by saying 'Kung Hei Fat Choy!', which means Happy New Year!
Continued...