Interesting things about Lunar New Year’s Day

Chinese New Year’s Day or Lunar New Year’s Day according to the lunar calendar. People of Chinese descent place importance on this day, the same as Thai people give priority to Songkran Day.

What are the dates for the day for shopping, the day to pay respect, and the day for visiting? What to do on Lunar New Year’s Day for good fortune? How to dress? Do not worry, ACU PAY will take everyone to see the details of the Lunar New Year’s Day together!

History of Lunar New Year’s Day

The Lunar New Year is the most important festival in China that has been held for more than 4,000 years. In the past, this day was called “Chunjie” which means Spring Festival. This festival was held in spring to celebrate because before spring, agriculture could not be done since the whole city was covered with snow. Everything went back to normal when spring came, including agriculture.

Therefore, Chinese people have designated the first day of each year’s spring as an important day called “Lunar New Year’s Day” because Chinese people consider Lunar New Year’s Day to be a new year in the Chinese calendar, as well as Songkran Day which is Thai New Year. Thus, China is paying particular attention to this festival and there are celebrations held around the world, especially in large communities of Chinese descent people. Each region has different celebrations. The Lunar New Year’s Day of 2024 falls on 10 February.

Auspicious food and snacks of Lunar New Year’s Day

Traditions and rituals on Lunar New Year’s Day start from food to clothing. Dinner consists of seafood and steamed food such as Shumai. Each food has different meanings.

Delicious food like shrimps means prosperous and happy life, dried abalone means every good thing, raw fish salad means bringing good fortune Jicai (angel’s hair), seaweed that looks like hair but can be eaten will bring wealth and Jiaozi means to be blessed by ancestors. On Lunar New Year’s Day, Chinese families will eat vegetables called “Cai.” Although different kinds of vegetables that are cooked are just root or fiber-shaped vegetables, many people believe that vegetables have a meaning that is auspicious in them.

Lotus seeds – means to have male descendants
Chestnut – means money
Black seaweed – its pronunciation is similar to the word “rich”
Fermented Tofu made from soybeans – its pronunciation is similar to full of wealth and happiness. Tofu made from fresh beans will not be included in the food for LuNar New Year since white means bad luck for New Year and for mourning.
Shoot – its pronunciation is similar to a blessing for everything full of happiness.
A whole fish – a representative of coexistence and abundance
Chicken – for progress. The chicken must still have heads, tails and feet to demonstrate its completeness.
Rice Vermicelli – Should not be cut because its meaning is long life.

Customs and activities on Lunar New Year’s Day

Ancestors worship: It is a way of showing gratitude to the deceased ancestors. Chinese people will prepare various foods and offerings to pay homage to their ancestors.
Give out red envelopes: As a gift for children. The children who received the red envelope must say thank you to the adults who gave it to them.
Eating auspicious foods: Chinese people believe that eating auspicious food will bring good luck throughout the year. The auspicious foods usually eaten on Lunar New Year’s Day include fish, Chinese-Style Fried Noodles, Chinese New Year’s cake, and dumplings.
Decorate houses in red: Red is the auspicious color of the Chinese people. Therefore, Chinese people prefer to decorate their houses with red on Lunar New Year’s Day.
Relatives visiting: Chinese people will spend Chinese New Year’s Day visiting relatives and friends to celebrate the new year together.

According to ancient customs, the Chinese New Year is usually celebrated for more than 15 days, but three days have been considered a principle as follows;

The day for shopping falls on 8 February, 2024

The day before the end of the year before Chinese New Year. It is a day when Thai-Chinese people have to go shopping for things, including food, fruits, and other offerings.

The day to pay respect falls on 9 February, 2024

At dawn, a ceremony to pay homage to “Bai laoye” which is about worshiping various gods will be started. The ceremonial items are three types of meat consisting of pork, duck, and chicken. Liver and fish will be added to make five kinds of meat together with liquor, tea, and golden and silver paper.

In the late morning, “Bai fumu” ceremony will begin. This ceremony is to pay homage to deceased ancestors, parents, or relatives by expressing their gratitude according to Chinese beliefs and attitudes. The ceremony will not take more than noon, with ceremonial items such as Sansheng, a sweet and savory food (most of which are food that those who passed away like to eat), including gold and silver paper, and paper clothes to be dedicated to the deceased. Then, relatives will gather to eat the offered food for the auspiciousness and this is considered as a time for family or family gatherings. Wrapping up by exchanging red envelopes after having a meal together.

In the afternoon, the “Bai hao xiongdi” ceremony will begin. It is a ritual to pay homage to the deceased sibling. The ceremonial items are such as Chinese New Year’s cake, Stuffed Dough Pyramid, Taro in syrup, and silver and gold Paper, as well as firecrackers which are used to drive away evil things.

The day for visiting or Lunar New Year’s Day falls on 10 February, 2024

The Chinese people will adhere to ancient customs that have continued to be practiced until now. Chinese New Year is the day when Chinese people consider it an auspicious day to refrain from sin. There will be some important mottos such as refraining from speaking rudely to each other, not collecting debts, not grabbing broomsticks and will dress up in new clothes to visit relatives and relax outside the house.

Lunar New Year is a great tradition that has existed for a long time, but above all, it symbolizes happiness and connects people from generation to generation. A blessing for all of you on 2024 Lunar New Year is ‘Xin zheng ruyi xinnian facai Hongboo duoduo lai’ which means may your wishes come true, be wealthy, and have good fortune all year long.

Reference from