Chinese New Year Traditions

Welcome to the Year of the Water Dragon!

January 22, 2012 is the last day of the Year of the Rabbit. 

On January 23, 2012 we move into the Year of the Water Dragon.

Over the years, Chinese New Year has become a big celebratory time in my household. Ever since I became a serious student of HH Grandmaster Professor Yin Lun, my family has done ceremony and celebrated this auspicious occasion. Here is some of what we do.

To get the house ready we:

• Clean the house.
• Polish the mirrors.
• Put new clean sheets on the beds.
• Make certain that all the light bulbs work.
• Fill the bird feeders.

Fill bowls with traditional New Year’s food:

• Apples for safety and health.
• Oranges and tangerines for wealth and money in the New Year.
• Pineapple for promotions and fame.
• Peanuts for health.
• Gold wrapped chocolate coins to represent wealth.
• Sweets for a sweet year.

Fill the rooms with:

• Paper White, narcissus, to reap the rewards of hard work in career.
• Orchids for higher growth, abundance and grace.
• Branches of plum or apple blossoms for auspicious beginnings.
• Lots of bright colored, fresh and sweet smelling flowers for auspicious blessings in all areas.

We have a big feast with at least nine different dishes. Some are very traditional. I order most of it in from a Chinese Restaurant in town.

It’s important to have way more food than necessary, so there are plenty of leftovers. So much, so that there is no need to cook, on New Year’s Day. This portends a particularly prosperous year with lots of money rolling in.

We wear new clothes.Usually something red.

We play games, make music and tell stories late into the night.

I give my children Red Envelopes with paper money in them, special charms for the year and chocolate gold coins.

We do ceremonies for personal and family blessings.

It is a time of letting go of the past. We welcome the new with ceremony and ritual.