Chinese New Year is celebrated not only by the Chinese people, but most of the countries in the world, as well. Known in China as the Spring Festival, the world will welcome the year of the fire rooster just a few days from now.
The celebration of the Chinese New Year also comes with the preparation for Chinese traditions and superstitions that are usually practiced because of the belief that it will bring abundance and prosperity for the coming year ahead. We listed some of the practices that you must and must not do in celebrating the Chinese New Year this 2017.
Things that you must do:
1. Say "Gong Xi Fa Cai" to everyone you talk to. This literally translates "Have a happy and Prosperous New Year". Everyone you will greet will eventually greet you back. Therefore, the more people you wish with a happy new year, the more people will do the same just for you.
2. Wear new clothes that are color red. In Chinese tradition, red symbolizes luck and the vitality of life and happiness. According to China Highlights, wearing red is also a means of preventing the bad spirits, which are connected to bad fortune, from coming. More so, New Year means a new start for the Chinese people. So if you are wearing new clothes during the New Year, you are already beginning a brand new start for the year ahead.
3. Set off loud firecrackers. Chinese people believe that setting off firecrackers is the best way to keep the bad spirits away from home. The loud and cracking noises scare the evil spirits from coming.
4. Open all the windows and doors in your home. By this, the Chinese people believe that it is one way of sending out the vibes brought by the previous year and welcomes all the luck and prosperity that comes with the New Year.
Thigs that you must NOT do:
1. Cleaning the trash before midnight of the Chinese New Year. If you have wastes from your New Year celebration, just keep them where they are, or better yet, clean them right before the midnight of the New Year comes. According to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald, cleaning or sweeping during the New Year means sweeping off and washing away fortune and good luck.
2. Cut or rinse you hair. In the Chinese translation, the first character in the word "prosper" is the same character in the Chinese word for "hair". Therefore, Chinese people believe that if you cut your hair, you are also cutting the fortune in the upcoming year, while rinsing it also means that you are washing away the good luck in your life.
3. Never wear clothes that are either black or white. In China, the colors of black and white symbolize mourning or death. Chinese tradition claims that wearing a black or a white during the Chinese New Year would also mean that you are actually celebrating the death of your fortune for the next year.
Aside from these, there are many other beliefs and traditions that are practiced during Chinese New Year. But remember that these are only beliefs. True luck and fortune is achieved if you strive and work hard for your success.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
