Chinese New Year: Traditions We Can All Celebrate 農曆新年的美好祝願不變改
Written by Candy Chan · Translated by the Fete Chinoise Team
農曆新年（春節）是華裔最重視節慶之一，象徵新一年開始，同時亦是家人團聚機會。今年疫情下雖然大家無法闔家聚首，但亦可以在自己的社交氣泡中營造喜氣氛圍；有些傳統新年習俗還是可以實行，隔空向親人送上新年祝福。
Traditions
Sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office of Toronto
reorganizing the home
Every household at the end of the Lunar calendar will do a giant “clean up” and put up auspicious phrases known as “fai chuns”. You might want to take advantage of this day for yourself by reminiscing on the old and welcoming the new; “cleaning” up not only your space but also your soul. For Southern Chinese, we usually take a bath with pomelo leafs, which symbolizes washing away bad luck and welcoming wealth and a beautiful new year. At this time, many also bring home mandarin oranges that symbolize prosperity and success.
年廿八家家戶戶都會做歲晚大掃除、洗邋遢、貼揮春和貼窗花。大家不妨趁藉這個日子為自己斷捨離一下、送舊迎新，好好為心靈和家具打掃一遍。南方人一般會碌柚葉洗澡，象徵洗去霉運，迎接財富和美好新一年。在家裏擺放年花和柑橘，寓意榮華富貴、事事大吉大利！
Sharing in a meal
On New Year’s Eve, having a festive dinner is essential. Of course, the dishes are more plentiful than usual with steamed fish and savoury entrees and mains. By eating these dishes, it is believed that they will bring abundance. Making and eating dumplings on New Year's Eve is a popular custom to all regions. If you eat a lot of these familiar Chinese “golden ingot”-shaped dumplings, it suggests that you will become more prosperous in the coming year!
年三十晚除夕夜，年夜飯（或團年飯）必不可少。菜式當然要比平常豐富、大魚大肉寓意來年豐衣足食。其中除夕夜包餃子、吃餃子更是兩岸三地都流行的習俗，北方人更會將硬幣放在肉餡裏，誰咬到誰就財源猛進！一顆一顆形狀像古時中國使用的銀錠，吃得多來年定必財源滾滾呢！
“儘管有些傳統習俗跟不上時代巨輪而漸漸流失，加上疫情對大家的生活挑戰不斷，與親人聚首可能還是要耐心久候一下；但農曆新年的美好祝願卻不會改變，大家重溫過年習俗之餘，切記要好好珍惜身邊人、迎接新年帶來的機會和歡樂！”
First day of the Lunar New Year
On the first day of the Lunar New Year there are countless celebrations such as: going to temples to pray for blessings, watching lion dances, wearing new clothes, and activities throughout the city. When it comes to food for the New Year's Day, the most symbolic dish I must mention is niangao made with glutinous rice flour and sugar. Because the word for the dish is synonymous with the idea of “growth” or “growing taller,” it implies progress will be made in the coming year. Over the years, new year recipes have become more innovative and associated with many symbolic meanings, including: turnip cake, melon seeds to symbolize “many children”, and the candy boxes of sugar lotus seeds and winter melon… all so savoury and sweet, the taste of these memories is such a delicacy. l grew up eating during the holidays like this.
到年初一到廟宇祈福、舞獅、放鞭炮、穿上紅色新衣拜年、派利市等等慶祝活動實在不勝枚舉。提到新年應節美食，不得不提以糯米粉和糖製成的年糕，因為「糕」與「高」同音，所以年糕寓意「步步高陞」。時代變遷年糕亦有不同創新口味，還有豐儉由人的蘿蔔糕、寓意多子多孫的瓜子、嶄露頭角的油角、全盒裏面源源不絕的糖蓮子糖冬瓜等等......有鹹有甜，這些回憶的味道，我們都是這樣吃著長大的吧。
The heart of it
儘管有些傳統習俗跟不上時代巨輪而漸漸流失，加上疫情對大家的生活挑戰不斷，與親人聚首可能還是要耐心久候一下；但農曆新年的美好祝願卻不會改變，大家重溫過年習俗之餘，切記要好好珍惜身邊人、迎接新年帶來的機會和歡樂！
Even though some traditional customs are gradually lost in the sand of time, compounding with the effects of restricting and cancelling mass gatherings, it is likely going to be a long while before we can meet with relatives again. However, the good wishes for the Chinese New Year will not change. In addition to remembering the New Year customs of the past, it is important to remember to cherish the people around you and welcome the opportunities and joy the New Year brings!
