List of 5 Things Associated with Chinese New Year
Reporter
January 28, 2025 | 04:19 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Chinese New Year 2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake. Also known as Lunar New Year, the celebration is always associated with the color red combined with yellow. Lantern decorations complete the festive atmosphere also for food. Various decorations and certain culinary variations are celebration specialties.
1. Red Color
Red symbolizes happiness and good fortune. Red decorations such as lanterns, candles, and red envelopes are usually combined with gold, which symbolizes prosperity. According to the Hindustan Times, the connection between the color red and fire represents dynamic traits such as leadership, confidence, aggression, sensitivity, and success.
During Chinese New Year, traditional lion and dragon dance parades feature red costumes. This energetic performance is believed to bring good fortune and prosperity to the community.
2. Red Envelopes
Angpau is a red envelope containing money, typically given by adults or married individuals to children or younger relatives.
The head of the Chinese Studies program at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kang Ger Wen, explained that there is no fixed amount for angpau as it symbolizes blessings in Chinese tradition. Kang believes that the amount of money given to family members should differ from that given to colleagues. "Because in Chinese tradition, especially in Confucianism, love for close family members and friends is different," he said.
3. Lion Dance
The Lion Dance is one of the key elements in the celebration of Chinese New Year. The lion symbolizes courage and strength in Chinese culture. This tradition is not just a form of entertainment but is also believed to bring good fortune and cast out negative energy.
4. Mandarin Orange
Mandarin oranges are fruits that are served during the Chinese New Year celebration. These fruits are considered to symbolize good fortune and happiness. Mandarin oranges are also believed to bring prosperity to the family that serves them.
5. Foods
Special foods are an inseparable part of the Chinese New Year celebration. Dishes such as dumplings, noodles, spring rolls, soup, and milkfish are served on the dining table. Each dish carries a symbolic meaning. One popular dish during Chinese New Year is yu sheng, which symbolizes blessings and prosperity.
This dish typically consists of a mix of pickled vegetables and fish, with sauces and other seasonings. The typical Chinese New Year dish uses a mix of vegetables, including lettuce, carrots, radish, and cabbage. The flavors vary as the tongue experiences a blend of sweetness, plum sauce, salty salmon fish, and savory wonton crackers. Yu sheng is just one of the many dishes usually served during Chinese New Year.
Anastasia Pramudita Davies and Sukma Kanthi Nurani contributed to the writing of this article.
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