Chinese New Year, or 春节 (Chūn Jié), is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in Chinese culture. It is rich with symbols that embody various wishes and traditions, each carrying deep meanings and playing a significant role in the festivities. Below are some of the most prominent Chinese New Year symbols, along with Chinese New Year symbols hold deep cultural significance, representing luck, prosperity, and new beginnings. The top symbols include red envelopes, lanterns, firecrackers, zodiac animals, and the Fu character, each playing a crucial role in the festive celebrations. Top 15 Chinese New Year Symbols 1. Red Envelopes (Hongbao) 1. Pinyin - Chinese Symbol for Luck. One of the most popular Chinese symbols of good luck is the pinyin character for fu, which represents good luck or good fortune. The ancient Chinese tradition of hanging a fu symbol on the front door is still practiced during the Chinese Spring Festival and Chinese New Year. Other Chinese New Year Symbols for good luck. During Chinese New Year, various charms and decorations are used to attract good fortune. These range from paper cutouts to couplets and paintings, all featuring wealth, happiness, and longevity themes. Paper cutouts: Artistry and auspiciousness. Chinese New Year paper cutouts The myriad symbols of Chinese New Year, from the vibrant red hues to the explosive firecrackers, encapsulate deeply rooted cultural beliefs and traditions. Each element, whether the enigmatic Chinese Zodiac or the formidable Nian Monster, holds profound significance. Bringing prosperity, luck, and happiness for the year ahead, Chinese New Year decorations are rich in cultural significance and symbolism. Adorning homes with a flash of symbolic red, the decorations are believed to bring positive energy and intentions for the future at a time of great celebration in China and across the world. The symbols of Chinese New Year help to encourage prosperity, luck, abundance and good fortune for the coming year. While New Year’s Day (as determined by the Gregorian calendar) falls on January 1st annually, the date of the Chinese New Year changes every year. The Chinese character 福 is commonly used during the Chinese New Year. Chinese like to hang Chinese New Year decoration that has this Chinese word on it. And, they will purposely hang this lucky Chinese character upside down. By doing so, it symbolizes good fortune and good luck will come to one’s home. 福倒 (fú dào) , the Chinese word If you've ever celebrated Chinese New Year, you likely know that Fu is one of the most popular Chinese characters used during the event. It is often posted upside down on the front door of a house or an apartment. The upside down Fu means good luck came since the character for upside down in Chinese sounds the same as the character for came. Here are some of the most popular lucky Chinese characters: Lucky Chinese Character, 福(fu) 福 (fú) - Good Fortune. This Chinese character means "good fortune" or "happiness" and is often displayed upside down during Chinese New Year to symbolize the arrival of good luck. 禄 (lù) - Prosperity Chinese New Year, also called the Lunar New Year, lasts 15 days, beginning with Spring Festival on the first day, and ending with dragon parades and Lantern Festival on the last day, a full moon. On the first day of the New Year, families get together, visit friends, exchange gifts, children are given lucky money envelopes, and everyone shares Red is a symbol of good luck and is often seen in Chinese New Year celebrations. It is also the color of fire, which is said to ward off evil spirits. It is also the color of fire, which is said to ward off evil spirits. Chinese people eat foods with the symbols of good luck, prosperity, and happiness during the Chinese New Year. The lunar New Year 2025 is coming, try these traditional dishes with auspicious meanings and have good fortune in the new year. 1. Fish - Fortune and Abundance The Chinese lucky coins, on the other hand, are a very important lucky charm under Chinese Feng Shui, just like the famous Laughing Buddha. The Chinese lucky coins are considered to be a symbol of wealth and fortune, and when placed in our home and workplace according to the Feng Shui principles, it is believed that the owner will enjoy prosperity. By serving lucky Chinese New Year food at the holiday’s reunion dinner—the Reader's Digest. 12 Lucky Foods to Eat for Chinese New Year 2025. Story by Su-Jit Lin Symbol: Wealth. The Lunar New Year or Spring Festival is known by most Westerners as the Chinese New Year. This is an important and fabulous festival of new beginnings. In the Chinese Lunar calendar the Chinese New Year can never occur earlier than January 21th and never later than February 20 th . Crystals and Their Meanings in Feng Shui 7. Lucky Feng Shui Plants 8. Lucky Colors in Feng Shui 9. Lucky Numbers in Feng Shui 10. How to Use These Feng Shui Symbols 11. Use These Chinese Good Luck Symbols Now What are Chinese Good Luck Symbols? Chinese good luck symbols are used to create harmonious environments to enhance the quality of life. These symbols of luck in China have become a big part of Chinese New Year celebrations. The Chinese zodiac's origins are unclear, but these animals have likely had symbolic meaning for more than So eating mud carp symbolizes a good relationship and fortune. The Chinese for “catfish” sounds like the word meaning “year plus”. So eating catfish is a wish for a surplus in the new year. Chinese people eat one fish on New Year’s Eve and one on New Year’s Day to symbolize a surplus year after year. The Chinese sacred lily is a Chinese New Year symbol that signifies good luck and fortune. The Chinese sacred lily is actually water narcissus that blossoms at New Year's time. It is an important element in the Chinese Spring Festival.
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