This year, Chinese New Year lands on January 28th. Though the actual date has passed, people usually have an entire 7 days off from work to celebrate the festival. As the end of celebrations loom, lets look at what makes this festival so important to Chinese people all over the world.
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival in China, is China’s most important traditional festival. It is also the most important celebration for families, and a week of official public holiday.
How do Chinese Celebrate the Festival
The main traditional celebrations of the festival include eating reunion dinner with family, giving red envelopes, firecrackers, new clothes, and decorations. More modern celebrations include watching the CCTV Gala, instant message greetings, and cyber money gifts.
Giving red envelopes to pass on best wishes
Like Christmas in the West, people exchange gifts during the Spring Festival. The most common gifts are red envelopes. Red envelopes have money in, and are given to children and (retired) seniors. It is not a customs to give red envelopes to (working) adults, except by employers.
Eating lucky foods for increased luck in the year ahead
Certain foods are eaten during the festival (especially at the New Year’s Eve dinner) because of their symbolic meanings, based on their names or appearances.
Fish is a must for Chinese New Year as the Chinese word for fish sounds like the word for surplus. Eating fish is believed to bring a surplus of money and good luck in the coming year.
Other Chinese New Year foods include dumplings, spring rolls, glutinous rice cakes, and sweet rice balls.
It is a happy and exciting festival and Pacific Dental Group wish everyone Happy New Year, while you enjoy your big dinner with family, don’t forgot to brush your teeth and keep them healthy and clean.
