Chinese New Year Terminology & Symbolism

Chinese New Year has quite a few terminology and symbolism that are practise till today but do you the meaning?

Flowers

Flowers are an important part of the New year decorations. In the old days, much use was made of natural products in celebrations as well as in daily life. The two flowers most associated with the New Year are the plum blossom and the water narcissus

Lai-See Envelopes (Also called Ang-Bao)

Money is placed in these envelopes and given to children and young adults at New Year’s time, much in the spirit as Christmas presents. Presents are also often exchanged between families. The presents will have a red paper stick onto the present to symbolise wealth and joy.

Lucky Character

The single word " FOOK ", or fortune, is often displayed in many homes, commercial centre and shops. They are usually written by ink-brush on a diamond-shaped piece of red paper. Nowadays, the ink-brush is replace to printed characters.

Plum Blossoms

This stand for courage and hope. The blossoms burst forth at the end of winter on a seemingly lifeless branch. In Chinese art, plum blossoms are associated with the entire season of winter and not just the New Year.

Spring Couplets

Spring couplets are traditionally written with black ink on red paper. They are hung in storefronts in the month before the New Year’s Day, and often stay up for two months. They express best wishes and fortune for the coming year. There is a great variety in the writing of these poetic couplets to fit the situation. A store would generally use couplets hat make references to their line of trade. Couplets that say "Happy New Year" and " Continuing Advancement in Education" are apprpriate for a school.

Sweeping Out the Old, Welcoming in the New

Old business from the past year is cleared up. Normally Chinese will clear all their debts before the New Year to start fresh.

Tangerines, Oranges, Pomelos

Tangerines and oranges are frequently displayed in homes and stores. Tangerines are symbolic of good luck, and oranges are symbolic of wealth. These symbols have developed through a language pun, the word for tangerine having the same sound as "luck" in Chinese, and the word for orange having the same sound as "wealth". Pomelos are large pear-shaped grapefruits.

Tray of Togetherness

Many families keep a tray full of dried fruits, sweets, and candies to welcome guests and relatives who drop by. This tray is called a chuen-hop, or "tray of togetherness". Traditionally, it was made up of eight compartments, each of which was filled with a special food item of significance to the New Year season.

Water Narcissus

Flower that blossoms at New Year’s time. If the white flowers blossom exactly on the day of the New Year, it is believed to indicate good fortune for the ensuing twelve months.