CNY 2024: A Day-by-Day Breakdown of How to Celebrate Properly

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There’s a whole lot to know if you’re going to celebrate Chinese New Year properly, and this year I plan on doing everything by the book and sticking as close to tradition as possible, partly to teach my little girl this side of her heritage and partly to finally satisfy the curiosity I’ve had for it all these decades. So, join me as I explain every Chinese New Year tradition that’s about to take over the city.

Let’s start with the dates this year and what people traditionally do on each of these days.

This year, Chinese New Year falls on Feb 10. The reason that it changes every year is because it follows the lunar calendar, which is why it’s also referred to as the Lunar New Year.

How many days is the Chinese New Year? Chinese New Year typically lasts around 15 or 16 days because it begins with the new moon that falls sometime between the end of January and the end of February and ends on the following full moon. The arrival of the full moon is traditionally marked with a Festival of Lanterns. This year, Chinese New Year is 16 days, starting from Feb 10.

But before the holiday officially starts, there are traditions to follow. In the days leading up to Chinese New Year’s Eve, you’re supposed to do all your holiday shopping for your friends and family. By this time, supermarkets and malls will be filled with red and gold gift boxes of all sizes.

Traditional gifts include:

• Tea. A gift of tea is considered to also be a gift of good health.
  
• Fruits. Especially oranges, as they symbolize good fortune. But if you’re giving fruits, never give pears, as they are a symbol of parting in China.
  
• Hongbao. If you want a guide to how much to put in each person’s hongbao, stay tuned as we share the results of our hongbao polls later on.
  
• Wine and liquor.
  
• Flowers. Orchids for fertility and abundance. Red anthurium is for prosperity. Peach blossom and pussy willow for growth and prosperity. Lucky bamboo for strength.

You’re also supposed to clean your house so that you’re celebrating the New Year with a clean start to rid your homes of bad luck. This will also allow plenty of space to receive good luck in the coming year.

Then on the eve of Chinese New Year (Feb 9) with all your home decorations done and hongbaos packed, it’s time to meet up with your friends and family for a celebration dinner. If fireworks were still allowed, this would be the night when people would set them off. The following day, on the actual Chinese New Year day, it’s time to send out those CNY greetings and wish your friends and family a prosperous year of the dragon.

For the following week, visit your friends and family and wish them a happy new year. This would also be the time to check out all the cool temple fairs in town.

Then on the 15th day (Feb 25) Chinese New Year finally comes to an end with the Lantern Festival.

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Images: Pexels, Bing

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