Happy February! We’re a month into 2022, AND it’s the Chinese New Year. While I LOVE January 1st as a fresh start, I LOVE looking at the traditions of the Chinese New Year too.
This year, 2022, is the year of the Tiger, and that is my Chinese Animal Zodiac, and you can find out yours too.
So, if you enjoy New Year’s Day traditions, I invite you to entertain some Chinese New Year traditions. And remember, every moment provides you the opportunity to restart, refresh, and move toward living your best life.
Moving forward, I invite you to try some of these Chinese New Year Traditions:
Wear red, not white. White symbolizes death in the Asian culture, so wearing predominantly white is a no-no. Also, avoid giving white flowers—instead, bring a colorful bouquet. Try to wear a new outfit on New Year’s Day—just not a white one!
Forget greeting cards. Give red envelopes instead! Known in Mandarin as hong bao, red envelopes containing money are often given from elders to children or unwed young adults. Avoid giving amounts ending in four as “four” sounds much like the word for “death” in Mandarin.
Don’t cut or wash hair on New Year’s Day. Do these in the week or so leading up to New Year’s Day, but don’t do it on the day of, as you don’t want to wash away or cut short your luck! The same goes for knives and scissors—avoid using them.
Avoid using a broom. You should clean your house before and not on the day as you don’t want to sweep out any good luck. Also, don’t take out the trash. Do this before or after.
Open windows. Blow in the good luck and blow out the bad the days leading up to New Year’s Day (unless it’s too cold to do so!)
Eat traditional food. Some of the things you should eat during New Year’s: Dumplings, noodles, fish, fruit like oranges, tangelos, and pomelos. Here are explanations for why some foods are associated with luck and good fortune for Chinese New Year. —Dumplings symbolize wealth and prosperity as they look like ancient Chinese ingots/money.
- Noodles symbolize longevity, and strands should be eaten whole and not a bit in half or cut
- Fish symbolizes a surplus of wealth and prosperity and should be the last savory dish served with a few pieces left to ensure a surplus of wealth and prosperity in the coming year.
- Fruit-like oranges and pomelos symbolize fullness and wealth. Some say the more fruit you eat; the more wealth will be brought to you.
BONUS: Stand at your front door on New Year’s Morning and ROLL the oranges into the space with the intention for the new year and to bring ABUNDANCE into the home for the new year!
Until next time, as Tony, the Tiger, would say – you’re great!
Affirmation
I am excited about the year ahead as I know it will be filled with LOVE.
Words to LOVE by:
Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. – Oprah
Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
It is never too late to be what you might have been. – George Eliot
Sounds for Your Soul:
Eye Of The Tiger – Survivor
