Chinese New Year is today and cosmopolitan as it is, Hong Kong still inherits and follows the most colorful customs of Chinese New Year.
Auspiciousness is very important. In the week before Chinese New Year, everyone in town is busy preparing for the festival, as they believe the start of Chinese New Year determines their fortune for the rest of the year.
To ensure you get the best start to the New Year, check out the following five must-do customs before Chinese New Year
Walk around a Peach Blossom Tree to get Mr. or Ms. Right next year.
Peach blossoms symbolise luck in love. To attract this luck, find the best Peach Blossom tree in the flower market and walk around it three times in a clockwise direction. Your Mr. or Ms. Right is bound to show up in the New Year. If you have enough space in your house, consider buying a Peach Blossom tree so that the luck of love stays in your home for the whole year.
Get a Tangerine Tree for Good Luck and Fortune in the New Year
In Chinese, the character and pronunciation of “Tangerine” and “Luck” are the same, and the color of tangerines is a bit like gold. This makes it the perfect auspicious item for a business person. People who do business will have a tangerine tree at home or at the shop front to wish for “great luck, great profit” in the coming year.
HONG KONG – FEBRUARY 04: People visit Chinese New Year Fair and get tangerine for better luck in the upcoming year on February 4, 2016 inf Hong Kong. The Chinese Lunar New Year also known as the Spring Festival, which is based on the Lunisolar Chinese calendar, is celebrated from the first day of the first month of the lunar year and ends with Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day. (Photo by Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)
Spin Away the Bad Luck and Attract Good Luck with a Pinwheel
So last year wasn’t that great? Get a Pinwheel! According to Chinese customs, spinning a pinwheel wards off the bad luck, and brings good fortune. “Spinning” in Chinese has the same meaning as “change”, so by spinning the wheel, you can “change” your luck from bad to good. The original “Wheel Of Fortune.”
HONG KONG – FEBRUARY 04: People walk through a aisle of pinwheel as a symbole to get rid of bad luck on February 4, 2016 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. The Chinese Lunar New Year also known as the Spring Festival, which is based on the Lunisolar Chinese calendar, is celebrated from the first day of the first month of the lunar year and ends with Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day. (Photo by Lam Yik Fei/Getty Images)
Bring Warm Blessings to your House with Hand-Written Fai Chun
Fai Chun is red paper with phrases wishing good luck, prosperity and other blessings. People stick Fai Chun on the door to make the coming year a fruitful and lucky one. Don’t worry if you don’t understand Chinese, because the golden writing by the calligraphy master is sure to be appropriate and makes it an art piece to be showcased at home, giving your home an authentic Hong Kong touch.
HONG KONG – FEBRUARY 04: People get a hand written Fai Chun for getting a authentic touch of Chinese New Year on February 4, 2016 in Hong Kong. The Chinese Lunar New Year also known as the Spring Festival, which is based on the Lunisolar Chinese calendar, is celebrated from the first day of the first month of the lunar year and ends with Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day. (Photo by Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)
Decorate your House with Plenty of Red for a Jubilant Festive Atmosphere
For Chinese people, red is associated with “happiness and good fortune”. If you decorate your house in red, it means good fortune and happiness will stay in your home. During Chinese New Year, people visit relatives and friends. Your home decorations will give your home a jubilant festive atmosphere and your guests a warm blessing for a Happy New Year.
HONG KONG – FEBRUARY 04: People make incense offering at Man Mo Temple on February 4, 2016 in Hong Kong. The Chinese Lunar New Year also known as the Spring Festival, which is based on the Lunisolar Chinese calendar, is celebrated from the first day of the first month of the lunar year and ends with Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day. (Photo by Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)
