How to Celebrate Chinese New Year with Your Family
The year of the Rabbit is right around the corner…the first day is January 22, 2023.
Our family lived in China for a year and experiencing the Lunar New Year there was magical. It is truly a time of happiness and good fortune. It’s tradition to spread goodwill to everyone you meet with a Happy New Year! Unlike our New Year celebration in the United States, their celebration lasts about two weeks; this year, beginning on January 22 and ending on February 5. These dates coincide with the new moon until the next full moon. Everyone takes time off and travels back to their hometown to celebrate with family. The first day is called the Spring Festival, and the last is the Lantern Festival.
Here are some traditions you can try in your own home.
Clean Your House
The reason for cleaning the house is to “sweep” out the last year and eliminate any bad luck. This takes place in the weeks leading up to the start of the holiday. Many also get new clothes in red (good luck) and gold (prosperity).
Decorate with Red and Gold
You can keep it simple and decorate with anything red or gold you have (candles, flowers, tablecloths, etc.), or here are a few links if you’d like to order traditional paper decorations. Also, bowls of mandarin oranges or small mandarin orange trees make great decorations too.
Assorted Red And Gold Decorations
Firecrackers and Fireworks
Look up any local celebrations to catch some fireworks. When we were in China, you would see and hear fireworks and firecrackers set off at all different times of the day.
Celebrate with Family
Gathering the older and younger generations is an important part of the celebration and a time to remember ancestors. This is usually done on the first day (January 22 this year) with a big family meal. Many older generations will give the younger generations red envelopes with money inside.
The Food
To celebrate in the United States, you can make all these items at home, or you can get take-out from a local restaurant and celebrate at home. Some of the things you want to include on the menu are:
Fish: sign of abundance
Noodles: sign of longevity
Spring Rolls or Dumplings: sign of wealth
Mandarin Oranges: sign for wellness
Sweet Rice Balls: sign of togetherness and family unity (my personal favorite)
Attend a Parade or other Festivities
Check your local area, but here are links to some of the large parades and other events across the United States:
San Francisco – February 4, 2023
New York City – February 12, 2023
