Before the celebrations begin, families go shopping for festival and decorations such as red Spring Festival Couplets (Chunlian), red animal paper cutouts, flowering plants as well as new clothes. The homes are properly cleaned to welcome friends and family in preparation of the New Year celebration, meals are prepared and red envelopes filled money and given out to family and friends as a sign of goodwill.
Reunion dinners that are held at this time are usually 8 courses or more. It is believed that including fish, dumplings, Spring Rolls, Good Fortune Fruit (such as tangerines and oranges), Tangyuan (sweet rice balls), Niangao (rice cake) and Longevity Noodles are lucky foods to have during the dinner. Each food represents some variation of good fortune ranging from prosperity, wealth, family togetherness and fullness.
Are you born in the Year of the Dog? Check out the personality traits and birth years of those who fall under this sign.
Birth Years are: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Personality Traits: Loyal, honest, popular, fair, energetic, independent and genuine.
From our ISO family to yours, Gong Xi Fa Cai!