Traditions
These are lit to create loud noises and racket that will scare away evil spirits and the mythical beast, Nian.
What are firecrackers?
Lunar New Year is also referred to as the festival of this season.
What is Spring Festival?
Emperor Wu believed that people with long faces lived long lives. This dish represents longevity.
What are noodles?
Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that you will have swept away this.
What is good luck?
The Lunar New Year is based on this calendar.
What is the Lunar or lunisolar calendar? As opposed to the Gregorian calendar.
Married couples give these packets with money to children. The packets represent luck, happiness and prosperity in the New Year for the receiver.
What are red envelopes?
This color resembles happiness, passion, and good luck; it is an auspicious color.
What is red?
Traditionally eaten during Spring Festival, this food is considered to bring wealth due to it’s color and shape resembling gold bars.
What are Egg (Spring) Rolls?
On the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, allow the old year to go out by opening these.
What are doors and windows?
2025 is year of this animal; offering opportunities for personal growth and transformation.
What is the Snake? Specifically the wood snake.
Families decorate their houses with these things to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
What are Flowers, Fruits, and red decorations?
This color resembles hope, royalty, and power.
What is yellow/ gold?
According to an old lore, the shape of this food looks like old Chinese money. Legend has it that the more you eat during the Lunar New Year celebrations, the more money you can make in the new year.
What are dumplings?
Wearing these colors during Lunar New Year is considered bad luck because these colors are primarily associated with mourning and funerals.
What is black or white?
Each representing a year, the Chinese zodiac is based on these many animals.
What is 12? The rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
These traditional Chinese dances are often performed at festivals, weddings, and Lunar New Year. The dances are a way to bring good luck and prosperity, and to ward off evil spirits.
What are Lion or Dragon dances?
These are located in a home or business to honor the family’s ancestors. They are often decorated with photos of deceased family members, incense, candles, and offerings of food.
What is an altar/ shrine?
This fruit sounds similar to the Chinese word for "wealth" which represents bringing fortune into the new year; they are often exchanged as gifts between family and friends during celebrations.
What is Mandarin/Orange?
This Chinese word sounds like the word for death; it is considered an unlucky number.
What is four (si)?
These bloom in the spring and symbolize the transition from winter to warmer weather, renewal, and new beginnings.
What are cherry or plum blossoms?
Hung up during the Lunar New Year, these symbolize letting go of the past year and welcoming the new year with good fortune. Their bright light represents hope, prosperity, and driving away darkness.
What are Lanterns?
Held on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, multiple generations of a family travel home and gather together for this meal.
What is reunion dinner?
The word for this in Chinese (yu) sounds like "surplus". This dish is eaten on Lunar New Year because it symbolizes abundance, prosperity, and renewal.
What is fish?
Doing this is considered bad luck because it's believed that the emotions expressed during this time will set the tone for the entire year ahead.
What is crying or arguing?
As the longest Chinese holiday, Lunar New Year is celebrated for this many days. (Hint: The time it takes for the moon to go from a new moon to a full moon)
What is 15? This celebration begins on the first day of the lunar calendar and ends on the 15th day.