Chinese people like to have red decorated poems pasted on both sides of door frames to ward off demons during the Spring Festival.
Hanging red scrolls and red paper decorations send messages of good luck, harmony, prosperity, and peace for the year ahead.
Another decoration is calligraphy. The most common word is fu, which means luck or good fortune. The character is displayed right side up or upside down. Upside-down fu means ‘fookums’, so it’s good luck either way.
On Lunar New Year, it is also traditional to give a bright red envelope, known as a hongbao, to children hoping for good fortune. The younger generations also give money to their elders in gratitude and for longevity. Nowadays, it is also given to friends and family for good luck.
In the past, currency was in the shape of doughnuts. These coins were tied with red thread. That practice was wrapped in red paper and now put in red envelopes.
The most important meal of the year is the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner. Be it home or restaurant, there are some special rules for seating arrangements. An example is that a traditional table would have four benches. Eight people sit in each. The eldest sits in north facing south. Then in descending order people sit in East, West and South. They also place an extra glass on the dining table in honor of the dead.
Food is an essential part of Chinese New Year. Foods considered lucky such as chicken (ji), fish (yu), bean curd (doufu), niangao (glutinous rice cakes), dumplings and noodles are served.
Prior to the festival, many families make delicious laba porridge before the festival, consisting of eight unique ingredients that represent family togetherness, protection, wealth and happiness.
There is an interesting myth about the Chinese New Year Nǚwā goddess in making dumplings. She has the body of a snake and is known as the mother of all life.
The story is that he made man out of yellow clay. Then he realized that in winter the ears freeze and break. So he sewed it and put the end of the thread in the mouth of the humans.
Later, in memory of Nwa, people mold the dough into the shape of ears and stuff meat and vegetables into it.