What do you know about ‘Chinese Lunar New Year’? Why ‘New Year’s Eve dinner’ is the most important meal of the year? Have you considered paying a New Year call as the 1st thing to begin the Year of the Ox?

[Photo: Nanfang Daily]

As we enter the homestretch of the Year of the Mouse, there are many things to do before thinking about what you want to achieve in the Year of the Ox.

During every Chinese New Year, it’s a tradition to visit some local flower markets, stock up necessary provisions, do year-end domestic cleaning, buy New Year decorations such as couplets, Kumquats, and peach blossoms.

[Photo: Nanfang Daily]

On New Year’s Eve (February 11th), people will gather around the table for a big meal. After staying up until late night , the 1st thing to do in the morning is to pay a New Year call to friends and relatives.

[Photo: Nanfang Daily]

New Year’s Eve dinner (Chinese: 年夜饭), is a great time for a family reunion and have a tête-à-tête with your parents or siblings. It is given the top priority because everything arranged and said at the table has a very propitious connotation and good meaning for the New Year.

[Photo: Nanfang Daily]

The family reunion dinner is not only the most important meal of the year but also the biggest one with all kinds of delicacies made out of chicken, fish, goose, pork, and seafood. When exchanging toasts, people will say a few auspicious words and raise the glass a little bit lower to show respect to each other.

New Year call (Chinese: 拜年), is usually the first activity on the New Year’s Day, that is, the first day of the first lunar month. When paying a visit to relatives and friends, Guangdongers usually bring some big oranges, and the host will also gift oranges in return.

In addition, the youngsters and children in the family can get ‘Red Pocket Money’ from the elders. The sum may not be a big one, but the custom in itself is a mark of good fortune as one wishes them well.

Hong Bao or red envelope (Chinese: 红包), is given out not only in the family, but also in the workplace. It is conventional for married people in Guangdong to give red envelopes to unmarried ones, be it the red paper envelopes or online red packets.

Does that sound awesome? How many red envelopes or packets will you get this year? Are you expecting a lot? Good luck!

Author | Fanny

Editor | Monica, Jerry