What do you do for New Year in Southeast Asia?

As the Lunar New Year approaches, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to some of our traditional activities and celebrations during the Chinese New Year. The Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, is the most important festival of the Chinese nation, symbolizing the time of bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new.

Cleaning: Before the Spring Festival, every family will carry out a thorough cleaning, which means sweeping away the bad luck and bad luck of the year, and welcoming the New Year's auspicious and good luck.

Stick spring couplets and window flowers: Chinese people will post red couplets on their doors, which write blessing statements or poems, meaning good luck; At the same time, various red paper-cut paper-cuts will be pasted on the Windows to add to the festive atmosphere.

New Year's Eve: On New Year's Eve, the whole family sits together to share a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner, which is an important embodiment of reunion and family affection. There will be fish on the table (meaning more than every year), dumplings (symbolizing wealth and auspiciousness in northern regions) and other symbolic foods.

Shousui: The whole family stays up late to welcome the New Year, called "Shousui", meaning to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the New Year, and look forward to all the best next year.

New Year greetings and red envelopes: During the Spring Festival, people will pay New Year greetings to each other. The younger generation will kowtow to their elders to show respect, and receive red envelopes containing lucky money from their elders, which means driving away evil spirits and praying for good luck.

Setting off firecrackers and fireworks: In order to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck, many places have the tradition of setting off firecrackers and fireworks. In recent years, some major cities have restricted or banned the practice due to environmental concerns.

Visit relatives and friends: During the Spring Festival, people will visit relatives and friends, exchange greetings and share the joy of the festival.

Watch the lion dance and dragon dance performance: there are colorful folk activities around the country, such as lion dance, dragon dance, lantern fair, etc., which add a strong traditional cultural color to the Spring Festival.

I hope this brief introduction will give you a deeper understanding of Chinese Spring Festival culture. Here, I also wish you and your family health, happiness, prosperity and all the best in the New Year!