In the old days, there was a monster who lived near a village.
This monster was called ‘Year Monster‘. It didn’t like red and it didn’t like noise.
Villagers would stick red paper on their doors and red fire crackers were lit to make loud noises so as to scare the monster. When the villagers knew that the monster had gone, they would greet and bless each other.
That’s why Chinese people lit fire crackers and stick red blessing notes on their doors.
In the first week and up to the first month, people visit their own families, relatives and friends to greet each other. Everybody dress up in new clothes.
Lai See/Lucky packets
Edible things like biscuits, chocolate or fruits will be given to the host as presents and the host has to return a small red packet with money to return the luck. When people meet, they wish each other good luck and married couples have to give ‘lai see‘ (red packet with money) to children and not married adults (not too old though, maybe under mid 20). ‘Lai see‘ means luck so when one gives out ‘lai see‘, that means he has plenty of luck to share with others. Therefore, when a couple sees a child, they have to give out 2 ‘lai see‘.
Unlucky words and curses are completely forbidden during Chinese New Year.
A new tradition now is to send Chinese New Year greeting cards. In the past this was not done but now that families are so spread out around the world people send cards with the good wishes for the New Year. And now that we live in the internet world you can even send Chinese New Year Greeting Cards.
(From: HKfastfacts.com)
Flowers are a key part of the Lunar New Year celebrations
