Chinese enclaves worldwide, including Binondo, come alive with dragon and lion dances that are believed to chase away evil spirits and bring blessings of wealth and luck for the new year. Led by the “Pearl of Wisdom” — the dragon weaves through crowds and the lion’s movements are accompanied by pounding drums and clashing cymbals. The Chinese New Year, marking the beginning of the lunar calendar, is celebrated worldwide with traditions promoting good luck and avoid bad fortune. Key practices include thorough cleaning before Serpentine-like dragon costumes are manoeuvred by a troupe of performers, originating a vigorous, mesmerising dance that is often the highlight of Chinese New Year parades – Photo by Lei Heong Ieong. Lion and dragon dances – among the most globally recognised Lunar New Year traditions – are central to the celebration. Each culture celebrating the Lunar New Year has traditions passed down from generation to generation that are thought to bring good luck. For the Lunar New Year 2025, I asked NPR readers and The best Chinese New Year traditions to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Snake in 2025. Try these good luck traditions of foods, colors and open windows. Red symbolizes happiness, good luck, and prosperity in Chinese culture. Homes are adorned with various red decorations, including lanterns, couplets, and posters featuring auspicious sayings and symbols. 3. Giving Red Envelopes (Hongbao) Red envelopes, known as “hongbao” in Mandarin, are a beloved Chinese New Year tradition. As with any New Year celebration, the Chinese New Year celebration is also incomplete without the sky lit with the fireworks. The loud noises of the fireworks and crackers are believed to scare the mythical beast Nian. The lighting of fireworks is also said to ward off evil spirits and bring in good fortunes. In addition to the Lunar New Year traditions discussed above, there are a number of taboos, which, if broken, are thought to bring bad luck in the new year, Yao explains. Don’t break anything A special way for people to express good wishes to each other and an important Chinese New Year tradition is to visit relatives. Generally speaking, people drop in at relatives and friends' houses, bringing gifts or red envelopes, and greeting one another with 'Happy New Year'. During Chinese New Year, people add pictures of the gods to their doors to bring good fortune to the household and to protect the family in the coming year. Brighten up with some colour It’s easy to see when the Lunar New Year is around the corner – festive scarlet deçor adorns every street, storefront and home. After reminiscing together and playing games, most families light fireworks at midnight. Some families choose to drive up the mountains to visit temples, where bells are rung to welcome the new year. This Chinese New Year tradition is believed to bring good fortune. The day after Chinese New Year is often spent with maternal grandparents and In addition to the Lunar New Year traditions discussed above, there are a number of taboos, which, if broken, are thought to bring bad luck in the new year, Yao explains. Don’t break anything In Chinese culture, the lion symbolizes power, wisdom, and superiority. People perform lion dances at Chinese festivals or big occasions to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits. The lion dance is one of the most important traditions at Chinese New Year. It is performed to bring prosperity and good luck for the upcoming year. The lion Generations come together to celebrate Chinese New Year, honoring traditions and strengthening family bonds. Clean—but don’t sweep luck away. Houses are cleaned before Chinese New Year to discard bad vibes, but on the day itself, no brooms or mops are allowed. Sweeping during festivities risks brushing away newly arrived fortune. The best Chinese New Year traditions to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Snake in 2025. Try these good luck traditions of foods, colors and open windows. Lucky food is served during the 16-day festival season, especially on Chinese New Year dinner on New Year's Eve, which is believed to bring good luck for the coming year. The auspicious symbolism of these traditional Chinese New Year foods is based on their pronunciations or appearance. Not only do the dishes themselves matter, but also the During Chinese New Year, people have a long list of things to do. From one week preceding the festival to the 15th day after, many Chinese New Year customs are widely observed for thousands of years. The family reunion dinner, eating dumplings, and setting off firework are the must-dos that you might know. What else interesting do the Chinese do? Packed with eight auspicious ingredients, this rice pudding symbolizes abundance and good luck. Each spoonful promises blessings and a thriving year. Eight Treasure Rice Pudding, a culinary masterpiece in Lunar New Year celebrations, goes beyond its delectable taste to embody symbols of abundance and good luck. Packed with auspicious 5. 年花 (New Year Flowers) Symbolism: New Year flowers such as 桃花 (peach blossoms), 富贵竹 (lucky bamboo), and 桔子树 (tangerine trees) represent growth, prosperity, and good luck. Each flower carries its own specific auspicious meaning. Application: These flowers are used to decorate homes and offices during Chinese New Year. For Red symbolizes happiness, good luck, and prosperity in Chinese culture. Homes are adorned with various red decorations, including lanterns, couplets, and posters featuring auspicious sayings and symbols. 3. Giving Red Envelopes (Hongbao) Red envelopes, known as “hongbao” in Mandarin, are a beloved Chinese New Year tradition.
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