Do You Know What These 8 Lunar New Year Traditions Mean?

lunar new year celebrations
Photo by Lê Minh

Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, is one of the most significant celebrations in East Asia. Each practice holds deep meaning, symbolizing hopes for prosperity, unity, and happiness in the coming year. Whether you celebrate it every year or are new to the holiday, here are 8 key Lunar New Year traditions and what they mean:


Cleaning and Decorating

decorating for lunar new year dinner

Photo by Angela Roma

Before the festivities begin, families give their homes a thorough cleaning, sweeping out the dust and bad luck of the previous year. Once clean, the house is decorated with red lanterns, couplets, and ornaments, which is a nod to red’s association with joy, prosperity, and protection against evil spirits. It’s all about starting fresh. So this tradition encourages clearing out negativity and creating space for new opportunities and good fortune.

Family Reunion Dinner

mother and daughter sharing dinner

Photo by Angela Roma

On New Year’s Eve, families gather for a reunion dinner, often sitting around a round table to symbolize unity. The feast includes meaningful dishes like fish (representing abundance) and dumplings (shaped like ancient gold ingots, symbolizing wealth). The meal is a celebration of family bonds and shared blessings for the year ahead.

Red Envelopes (Hongbao)

child holding red envelope

Photo by Angela Roma

Elders and married people give red envelopes filled with money to children and younger family members. These envelopes symbolize good luck and blessings for the year to come. Beyond being a monetary gift (which never hurts anyone), hongbao represents wishes for health, happiness, and success.

Firecrackers and Fireworks

yellow and red fireworksPhoto by DESIGNECOLOGIST on Unsplash

At midnight, firecrackers and fireworks light up the skies to welcome the Lunar New Year. The noise is believed to scare off evil spirits and negative energy, making sure there’s a clean slate for the year ahead. This is all about protection and bringing in positivity. If you have pets, though, make sure you take some precautions so they’re as comfortable as possible if there are big Lunar New Year celebrations in your area.

Lion and Dragon Dances

dragon dance lunar new year

Photo by Lucas Tran

These dynamic performances are staples of Lunar New Year celebrations, with the lion symbolizing protection and the dragon representing strength and dignity. The dances are thought to bring good fortune and drive away bad luck. The cultural storytelling of these dances is very joyful and it’s a reminder of the importance of strength and unity.

The Lantern Festival

lantern festival

Photo by Expect Best

Celebrated on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, families carry colorful lanterns to symbolize light and hope for the future. The festival often includes activities like solving riddles written on lanterns. It’s a time to look ahead with optimism and also celebrate family togetherness.

Avoiding Certain Actions

chinese lunar new year decorations

Photo by Angela Roma

During the Lunar New Year period, certain activities are avoided to protect good fortune. Cutting hair, using scissors, or arguing are thought to “cut off” luck or set a negative tone for the year, so they’re a big no-no. These superstitions highlight the importance of mindfulness and starting the year with positivity.

Wearing New (and Red) Clothes

people dressed in traditional chinese lunar new year clothes

Photo by Hải Nguyễn

Wearing new clothes, especially if they’re red, signifies a fresh start and brings good luck. Red is particularly popular because it’s associated with prosperity, joy, and protection against negativity. This tradition is all about leaving the old behind and stepping into the new year with confidence.


Lunar New Year traditions are beautiful customs and they hold a lot of meaning and intention. There are ways that you can celebrate these traditions respectfully if they resonate with you. Something as simple as cleaning your home or wearing new clothes to invite good luck allows you to engage with the sentiment while respecting Chinese culture.

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