中国新年除夕习俗(中西文化).doc

Traditions of Chinese New Year

The celebration actually starts on New Year's Eve with the family reunion dinner. By New Year's Eve, you should have
done the following:
Clean the entire home to get rid of all the things that are associated with the old year. Put away all brooms and brushes. Pay all your debts. Resolve differences with family members, friends, neighbors and business associates. Buy the following: Red money envelopes, Oranges and/or tangerines, Fill a "Cheun hup(a circular red tray separated in eight compartments) with melon seedslotuschocolate coinsnuts etc. Flowers (especially plum blossoms, peach blossoms, water lilies), A new set of clothes and shoes for children, preferably something red or orange. Get new dollar bills from the bank. Insert the new dollar bills into the red envelopes. Now the red envelope is called a lai see or lucky money envelope.
On New Year's Eve
Get together with close family members (not including married daughters and their families) for the "reunion" dinner. Pay respect to ancestors and household gods. Acknowledge the presence of ancestors because they are responsible for the fortunes of future generations. Open every door and window in your home at midnight to let go of the old year.On New Year's Day
Decorate your home with symbols of good fortune. Here are some suggestions:
Colors: Bright red (happiness); gold/orange (wealth & happiness). Fruits: Oranges and tangerines (good health & long life); tangerines with leaves intact (long lasting relationships; being fruitful and multiply); persimmons (happiness and wealth). "Chuen Hup" circular candy tray (candy for sweet and circular for togetherness and continuity). Flowers: If flowers bloom on New Year's Day, it will be a prosperous year. Red banners or couplets with New Year wishes and symbols of good fortune in gold.