The Chinese  Lunar New Year sees a culmination of many things. Family gatherings, thematic costumes, lion dance displays, feasting and so much more. As millennials, we go through the motion of things year after year but has anyone actually stopped to understand why certain traditions and practices even exist in the first place?

Take the iconic yu sheng toss for example. It’s more than just a group of rowdy folks screaming and tossing food in the air in a barbaric fit. In fact, it is a tradition with so much meaning and positivity around it.

To ensure traditions live on, here is our guide to 8 Chinese New Year traditions that every millennial should know.

CHINESE NEW YEAR SNACKS 

What Millennials think: Time to put my diet aside to get fat on all these new year goodies!

What it actually represents: Each Chinese New Year snack has its own symbolic meaning which brings about well wishes for the upcoming year. For instance, watermelon seeds represent vitality and longevity while pineapple tarts are thought of to bring good luck and prosperity to the house.

EATING DUMPLINGS 

What Millennials think: Just another dish that’s served during a reunion meal.

What it actually represents: Dumplings are actually eaten for good fortune as they resemble ingots which were an ancient currency used by the Chinese in the past. Therefore, based on that, the more dumplings you eat, the more wealth you will accumulate for yourself!

FIREWORKS AND FIRECRACKERS

What Millennials think: Perfect photo opportunity for Instagram! It’ll make a pretty aesthetic Boomerang shot.

What it actually represents: Fireworks and firecrackers symbolise good luck for the rest of the year and also is a way to drive away evil spirits. This is based on the ancient story of a mystical beast called Nian who liked to feed on livestock on the eve of Chinese New Year. In order to chase Nian away, the people lit firecrackers to scare it off.

LION DANCE 

What Millennials think: Noisy repetitive beats and a furry lion high on ecstasy.

What it actually represents: People, especially businesses, hire lion dancers to welcome in good luck as well as to drive away evil spirits. The lion itself is a symbol of power, wisdom and good fortune. So, if the lion happens to bite you on the head during one of these performances, lucky you!

NEW YEAR’S EVE REUNION DINNER 

What Millennials think: Time for another round of feasting and have relatives ask about our lives as if they genuinely care.

What it actually represents: New Year’s Eve reunion dinners are considered to be one of the most important dinners for Chinese families, especially for those families who spend very little time together or have family members overseas. During such dinners, family members gather around to catch up as well as spend much-needed quality time with their loved ones over a sumptuous meal.

RED PACKETS 

What Millennials think: Huat ah, free money! I can use this to buy a new iPhone (or gamble at my friend’s place later on).

What it actually represents: Red packets are a channel for sending good luck and wishes to the person on the receiving end.

Photo Credit: Clean My Space 

SPRING CLEANING 

What Millennials think: Time to revamp my wardrobe and bedroom! Guests are coming, better not let them see what kind of a horrible pig I am.

What it actually represents: Spring cleaning is regarded as a way of sweeping away the bad luck to welcome in all the good luck. However, be sure not to let your spring cleaning session drag into the new year — that would mean that you’ll be sweeping all the new year luck away!

STAYING UP PAST MIDNIGHT 

What Millennials think: Tomorrow is a public holiday, I can sleep in. No work, no school, no problem!

What it actually represents: People believe that by staying up past midnight after the reunion dinner, they will be able to properly send off the old and welcome in the new. When it comes to children, it is said that the longer the child stays awake at night, the longer their parents will live. So if your kid manages to stay awake for 24-hours, you’re going to be one old, happy parent.

One of the most highly anticipated festivals for the Chinese has to be the annual Chinese New Year. Based on the lunar calendar, the festival falls on the first day of the first month which is unlike the international New Year, and it differs every year.

Chinese New Year is the time when families get together, and for foreigners who make use of this holiday to travel back to their hometown for a family reunion. An important aspect of this festivity is also its traditions which have been kept for many generations.

If you have always been curious about the significance of spring cleaning and why are we told by our parents to stay up past midnight on the Eve of Chinese New Year, let us share with you 7 Chinese New Year Traditions And Their Significance.

Sorry to burst your bubble but everyone should know how much calories you are taking in every time you pop a pineapple tart into your mouth. Here’s a list of Calories in Popular Chinese New Year Snacks.

SPRING CLEANING

Before the Chinese New Year festivities begin, Chinese households usually make it a point to spring clean the entire house thoroughly. Besides making the house clean for guests to visit, it is also a way of “sweeping away bad luck”.

NEW YEAR’S EVE REUNION DINNER

Traditionally, reunion dinner falls on New Year’s Eve and it is considered to be one of the most important dinners for Chinese families. Family members who live apart after marriage make the most of this festival to spend time with their loved ones.

For families who are large in size, it can take weeks of planning as tables fill up fast at popular restaurants. Even those who are having their reunion dinner at home have to spare much effort in grocery shopping and preparation of the dishes.

Photo Credit: esteller

STAYING UP PAST MIDNIGHT

Parents usually urge their children to stay up until midnight after the reunion dinner to send away the old year and welcome the new. It is believed that the longer the children stay awake at night, the longer their parents will live in return.

FIREWORKS

While most people think that fireworks are just showstoppers for entertainment, there is actually meaning behind it. Fireworks were first introduced into the festival in China to drive away evil spirits.

It has been said that a mystical beast called Nian ate livestock on the eve of Chinese New Year. In order to chase it away, the people lit firecrackers in hopes that the machine gun-like sound from the firecrackers would scare it away.

EATING DUMPLINGS

Dumplings are a significance of good fortune and wealth as it resembles ingots, an ancient currency used by the Chinese during the old times. Hence, the more dumplings you eat, the more wealth you will accumulate for yourself!

Different stuffings in the dumplings have their own significance as well. The cabbage stuffing represents a well-off life for many years; having the mushroom stuffing supposedly increases your luck; beef stuffing is popular among stock investors as it symbolises strong economic growth and celery stuffing gives you wealth.

Photo Credit: China Tour

RED ENVELOPES

Red packets are a channel for sending good wishes and luck and it is given to bring happiness and blessing to those who are receiving it. It is considered rude to open your red packet in front of the giver.

CHINESE NEW YEAR SNACKS

Of course, Chinese New Year is not the same without its calories loaded snacks we all love and enjoy. Surely, you will find the same kind of snacks in almost all the households you visit and that is not of random occurrence.

Each snack has its own symbolic meaning which brings about well wishes for the upcoming year. If you are planning to host relatives and friends for this Chinese New Year, it is important to keep in mind the snacks you have to prepare!

Read more about the auspicious meaning behind Chinese New Year Goodies.