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January 21, 2025 | 10:02 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As one of the most celebrated holidays in Asia, Chinese New Year always brings out the best in its community. The profound festivities are felt across Asian countries and extend beyond the mainland of China. While the exchange of red envelopes summons the best appreciation from the crowds, the traditions before Chinese New Year hold as much significance upon the entire celebration.
Unique Traditions before Chinese New Year
According to Time Out, Discover Hongkong, and China Highlight, several traditions must be performed before Chinese New Year, such as the following:
1. Deep Cleaning House
Just like any other special occasion, Chinese descendants get rid of the old debris to welcome a fresh start. Since there is an unspoken rule to avoid cleaning the house on the first day of CNY, people begin their deep cleaning ventures on the 24th day of the 12th lunar month.
This tradition before Chinese New Year doesn't translate into the usual housecleaning agenda, as it involves scrubbing the bathroom, moving furniture to get to hard-to-reach walls and floors, and polishing the exterior of their home. This much effort is put into removing any bad luck or negative energy left over from the previous year so that the house is ready to welcome good fortune and prosperity.
2. Buy New Clothes
Buying new clothes is one of the preserved traditions before the Chinese New Year, symbolizing a clean slate for the coming year. In China, the Lunar New Year shopping season is similar to the Christmas shopping season, with many street markets opening in the days leading up to the Chinese New Year.
From buying a new pair of underwear to a few pairs of clothes for the whole family, it's always a good idea to splurge during this time of year. Amidst the bulging shopping bags, Chinese people always rave about the connection between red clothing pieces and the Lunar New Year celebration.
3. Get a New Haircut
Time Out noted that sharp objects are strongly associated with severing ties during Chinese New Year celebrations. As a result, Chinese people refrain from getting a haircut on the first day of the Lunar New Year. That's why it's best to polish your appearance before the festivities begin, so you can show off your best side to all your relatives.
4. Decorating the House
After deep cleaning the living space, the next tradition to do before the Chinese New Year is to decorate the house with a special set of decorations that attract good luck, such as red spring couplets, paper cuttings, red lanterns, and New Year paintings. You could also hang an upside-down Fu Chinese character on the door to hope for a stream of good fortune in the coming year.
5. Pay Off Your Debts
There's a common Chinese superstition that says if you start the year with a debt, you're likely to end it with another. For this reason alone, Chinese people often pay off their pending debts as the Lunar New Year approaches, hoping to attract good luck and fortune.
These Chinese New Year traditions are more than just preparations, as they revolve around meaningful rituals that are deeply rooted in cultural beliefs and values. To learn more about the cultures, check out how Lunar New Year is celebrated across Asian countries here.
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