Just in time for the Chinese New Year, GMA News TV's Ang Pinaka counted down the most popular Chinese New Year Traditions. This February 10, 2013, let us welcome the Year of the Water Snake with the following:
1. The Dragon Dance
Who doesn't know this? A Chinese New Year is not complete with this.
2. Giving out red envelopes or packets
Who is not familiar with this? We call this "ampao" which is given as gifts, especially to children.
3. Lighting up fireworks
Of course fireworks will always be part of the festivities. The Chinese, after all, invented the gunpowder, which implicitly saying, also invented fireworks.
4. Serving traditional foods
This is similar to the Filipinos' media noche or New Year's Eve dinner. They normally hold this as a family reunion wherein everyone eats traditional foods served at each household.
5. Cleaning the house
A general cleaning is held before the new year as a sign of cleaning the "old" just in time for the "new" year.
6. Putting up decorations
Decorations add up to the spirit of the new year. Most of the Chinese New Year decorations are red in color as the Chinese considers red as a lucky color.
7. New Year's Eve dinner
Please read #4 :)
8. Wearing bright colors and charms
Chinese are famous for charms... and the color red. To welcome the new year, they wear bright colors, especially red, and charms for good luck for the coming year.
9. Visiting temples
The Chinese visit temples on New Year's Eve or on New Year's day for thanksgiving and wishes for a good year.
10. Shou Sui
The family will stake awake to welcome the new year, normally after the New Year's Eve dinner. According to legend, the "Year", a mythical beast, will come out at midnight to bring harm. To fend off "Year", people stay awake, wearing the color red and putting off works.
Source: Ang Pinaka, GMA News TV
