Lunar New Year Newsletter

Fat Go 發糕
(Fa Gao)

Nin Go 年糕
(Nian Gao)

Fat Choy Ho-See
發財好事
(Fa-Cai Hao-Shi)

The mandarin orange tree
whose name sounds like “gum”, meaning “gold” and “prosperity” in Chinese

• The extended family comes together to dine on traditional foods. The highlight of the dinner is the fish dish, which is placed on the table but should not be finished as the remainder is to be saved for New Year’s dinner on the following evening. In Cantonese and Mandarin, fish is “yu” which sounds like “plenty” or “surplus”, meaning there a surplus of prosperity will be ensured in the coming year.
• Shou Shui”( "Shou-sui" in Mandarin) requires the youngest member of the family to stay awake as late as possible to ensure good health for the elder members.
• In Hong it is popular to visit the Taoist Wong Tai Sin temple in order to ask for better luck in the New Year. Many set the goal to be the first to enter at midnight as the fortune-telling bamboo sticks touching the holder first are considered to have the best chance for one’s prayers to be answered.

• Housework and the washing of hair, knives or other sharp objects are all to be avoided as cleaning on this day is considered taboo (as if you are washing your luck away).
• “Bai-Nin” ("Bai-nian" in Mandarin) involves New Year visits to family and friends. This occurs on the first 2 days of the New Year. The younger relatives visit the older ones, bringing fruits and candies with them and receiving “Lai See” in return.

• Lion Dances are traditionally performed on the first day that a business re-opens. Green leaves with “Lai See” attached are symbolically fed to the lion, thereby ensuring good business and prosperity.

• Day 3 is known as “Chek-Hau” ("Chi-kou" in Mandarin), which sounds like the word for quarreling. Due to this coincidental rhyme, families do not make visits to friends and relatives on this day. Instead, some may visit the Che Kung Temple, famous for its wind wheel, and give it a spin to ask for better luck in the New Year.

• Day 7 is “Yun-Yut” ("Ren-ri" in Mandarin), also known as the ‘common man’s birthday’. Everyone ‘officially’ grows one year older on this day.

• The last day of the festival is known as “Yuen-Siu-Jit” ("Yuan xiao jie" in Mandarin) or Lantern Day. It is also considered to be the Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day. Traditionally, a riddle would be attached to a lantern and if you could answer the riddle correctly, you would win the lantern as your prize.
• This is also the day to eat “tong-yuen” ("yuan xiao" in Mandarin), a sweetened, sticky, rice flour dumpling signifying togetherness.

  Activities

One of Beijing’s biggest and most popular fairs, with hundreds of food stalls and a packed entertainment schedule with a variety of performances. Hundreds of excellent folk arts & performing troupes from all over China are invited to perform. Acrobats perform daring stunts, dragon dancers weave in and out of the crowds, vendors sell all things festive, and of course local xiao chi (snacks) are available everywhere.

  Activities

Fair events here are very similar to those in Ditan. There will be various interactive competitions inviting visitors to join in arm-wrestling, rock climbing and chess playing.

Contact Tel: (010) 6714 4336

  Activities

During the festival, huge lanterns are carved from ice and colored lights are placed within to create a glowing spectacle that is particularly stunning at night. Children and adults alike can also enjoy sliding down the ice slides in this magical environment. Currently, Bungee in the Longqing Gorge has become more and more popular.

  Activities

Flower markets are an indispensable part of Chinese New Year celebrations. The markets are a gorgeous rainbow of colours and a riot of scents, offering the perfect backdrop for the multitude of individuals that descend upon popular markets in search of that perfect plant to bring them good luck in the coming year.

  Activities

Free viewing of the parade along the designated route. One can also join a tour that takes you to some of HK’s most exciting attractions during the day and allows you to enjoy the parade from a reserved grandstand in the evening.

  Activities

You are guaranteed a magnificent spectacle should you decide to join the thousands of people who flock to both sides of Victoria Harbour to witness the Lunar New Year Fireworks Display. Otherwise, if you choose to watch from the comfort of your home, turn on the radio or television to hear the accompanying music.

  Activities

A day of horse racing provides a unique way of welcoming the New Year. Catch all the fun and excitement during this special day on HK’s horse-racing calendar, taking place on the third day of Chinese New Year. Not surprisingly, it is a tradition amongst local sports fans to attend the first meeting of the season and place a “lucky” bet.