Chinese New Year (CNY) is one of the most significant celebrations in Asian culture, filled with traditions that bring luck, prosperity, and happiness. To ensure you start the lunar year on the right foot, here’s a handy list of do’s and don’ts to follow during the festive season! The Do’s. Clean and Declutter Your Home A time-honoured New Year tradition is serving sweet tea to the elder members of the family. In Chinese culture, tea symbolises good health and longevity. Grab some from Tea Journal, a tea cafe with an extensive selection of pu’er, oolong, green, white and herbal tea leaves imported from the Yunnan mountains – and it ships Australia-wide Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is a time of celebration and gift-giving. Traditional gifts hold deep cultural significance and are often exchanged to bring good fortune, prosperity, and happiness in the coming year. Pre-Chinese New Year Preparations and Activities (Jan. 7–Feb. 12, 2025) Jan. 7, 2025: Laba Festival. Some Chinese start to celebrate and prepare for Chinese New Year as early as day 8 of the 12 th month of the lunar calendar. Chinese Zodiac Chinese zodiac years begin and end at Chinese New Year, which falls either in January or February. Each year is represented by a zodiac animal, and 2025 is a very special one—the year of the wooden snake. The festivities start on January 29, 2025, and continue until the Lantern Festival on February 12, 2025. Chinese people believe that good things should be in pairs, so the presents should not be in odd number. For example, liquor is usually given in two bottles, and cigarettes in two cartons. If you are going to give a red envelope, the amount of the money should be an integer or an auspicious number like 6 and 8. Here are some examples of the To prepare the Chinese New Year gifts for hosts, either your in-laws or friends, you can select from the 6 most popular items - red envelopes, cigarettes, alcohol, tea, fruits, and health foods. In general, for people who are in need, pragmatic things are recommended; for people who are wealthy, the ingeniousness of the present is stressed. Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year or the Chinese Spring Festival, holds the most significant position among all Chinese festivals and holidays. It lasts for the first fifteen days of the Chinese lunar calendar, which on the Western calendar begins sometime between January 21 and February 21, varying from year to year. 5 Popular Chinese New Year Gifts for Friends or Coworkers. Choosing a Chinese New Year gift for your friends is based mostly on the intimacy of your friendship. Here are five of our favorite go-to gift ideas for friends or coworkers. 1. Food Combos and Hampers 'Everyone loves food dearly', it is said of people in China. DO bring abundant gifts to your family and hosts during Chinese New year celebrations. Fruits (especially oranges, tangerines, pomelos, and dragonfruit; avoid pears, which represent parting ways), live plants (such as lucky bamboo, colorful orchids, money plants, and citrus trees), and candies are safe gifts and always appreciated. A traditional gift during Chinese New Year is the exchanging of a pair of mandarin oranges and the giving of red packet containing an even amount of money. Unmarried adults and children receive these red packets from married family members and friends in exchange of wishing them good health and fortune . The 15th day of the Chinese New Year is the Lantern Festival (元宵节 yuán xiāo jié). It traditionally marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebration. On this day, popular activities include lighting up lanterns, guessing lantern riddles, eating yuan xiao (a kind of rice ball), and enjoying time with families or lovers. The act of sharing and enjoying these delectable pockets during the New Year celebrations becomes a communal tradition that extends beyond culinary delight, fostering a sense of togetherness and the belief in the prosperous journey that lies ahead. 20. Niangao (Chinese New Year Cake) The culinary delights that accompany this festive season are more than just food; they are symbols of luck, prosperity, and togetherness. By exploring and trying out these 50+ Chinese New Year recipes, you not only embrace the rich cultural heritage of China but also create an opportunity to share meaningful moments with your loved ones. So, we bring you the best Chinese New Year Celebrations in Asia to help you ring this loud celebration with some of the best parades and firework displays: Shanghai Shanghai, China – Jan. 8, 2018: Lantern Festival during the Chinese New Year( Pig Year), colourful lanterns and crowded people in Yuyuan Garden, happy Chinese new year concept. Our main concerns are as follows: 1. Are we (my grandfather and all the extended family related to my grandmother, including my parents' and my generation) allowed to celebrate Chinese New Year normally, or are there some celebrations we have to cut down, such as those regarding house visits and ang pows? 2. You're always safe bringing a bottle of wine, or a nice dessert for after the New Year's Eve dinner, or the like. So long as you don't bring one of these things, you're probably ok. Then again, my family is a bit weird. Our New Year's Eve celebrations tend to involve a lot of people getting together for hot pot and passive aggression. 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? Chinese New Year Pictionary. A fun twist on the classic game of Pictionary, using Chinese New Year symbols. How to Play: Players draw Chinese New Year-themed words or phrases while their team guesses. Tip: Include items like “dragon,” “lantern,” or “zodiac.” Variation: Set a timer for quick rounds to increase excitement. hi guys!! so i am a history student & have studied a bit of chinese history, but i have no idea about the culture & i needed advice. my partner's boss' family comes from fujian and are hosting a chinese new year's party for all the employees & their families, and i wanted to bring a thank you gift for them being so kind to us. the owner's birthday is coming up & i was going to get her flowers
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