Tagged Chinese New Year

Red Paper Envelopes

Don’t forget to get your gifts ready for Chinese New Year’s in red paper envelopes. Beautiful ones are available at the Far East Oriental store on Park Street in Whitehall.
Just a few guidelines so you don’t bring on any bad luck. Put even numbered amounts of money in the envelope, avoiding any that include the number 4. So give $6 or $10, but not $4, $14 or $40. Odd numbers are associated with bad luck, so, to be safe, give even amounts. These gift are generally give to children and unmarried people, but it is nice to include all those to whom you wish prosperity and good luck. We wish everyone a very Happy New Year!! Don’t forget to open your windows at midnight, and don’t eat that whole can of tuna!

Red envelopes for Chinese New Year
Red envelopes for Chinese New Year

Getting Ready for Chinese New Year’s Festival

Chinese New Year’s is right around the corner, and there are some things you might want to know before you start chilling the champagne again.

chinese-new-year-of-the-horse

Chinese New Year’s celebration is the longest festival of the year, lasting until the Lantern Festival begins on the 15th day of the following month. The New Year’s festival commemorates one’s ancestors, and the first night is a time to gather with friends and family to share a meal consisting of chicken and pork, as well as fish. The fish is never finished that night since it is considered good luck to have fish left over into the new year.

The other thing you might want to be aware of for the Chinese New Year is that you’re supposed to clean your house! You do this in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck. But don’t sweep on New Year’s Day itself because you could sweep away all your good luck for the year. Decorate your doors and windows with red color paper-cuts, a type of Chinese scherenschnitte, and couplets, or words with relationships with themes of “good fortune” or “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity.” Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving monetary gifts in red paper envelopes.
Mary Szakmeister