Beyond New Year celebrated on the eve of January 1st, Lunar New Year is also celebrated globally. In the Philippines, this is commonly referred to as Chinese (Filipino-Chinese) New Year.
Before celebrating Valentine’s Day, Filipinos first anticipate the Chinese New Year with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent declaration of Feb. 9, a special non-working day in the country, in observance of the Chinese New Year. This heightens the excitement of celebrating Chinese New Year.
One common practice during the Chinese New Year is using rituals and charms to bring good luck for 2024. Before we bask in the festivities, we should take note of the tips below so that luck is on our side.
- CLEANING THE HOUSE BEFORE CHINESE NEW YEAR
It is believed that cleaning the house thoroughly before the Lunar New Year drives away ill-fortune by sweeping it outside the house, allowing positive energy and luck to enter once the Chinese New Year arrives.
- ANGPAO
Another Chinese New Year superstition is that young children should be given angpao. Angpao is a red rectangular envelope into which money bills can be inserted. Giving angpao to children ensures that they have money entering the new year.
However, tradition does not end in giving angpaos to children. Angpao etiquette must also be followed by children receiving the angpaos. When a child is finally given their angpao, they should open it in private to count their blessings. It is not advisable to open angpaos during the festivities with so many people around. Once a child has received their angpao, they should politely say their thanks. And also, angpao money should not be spent immediately unless necessary.
- ALL DEBTS ARE PAID BEFORE CHINESE NEW YEAR
Similar to cleaning the house before Chinese New Year, it is also part of the tradition to make sure that all debts are cleared out before Chinese New Year. Doing this makes your new year debt-free to receive financial luck. In an interview with Pep, Feng Shui Expert Master Hanz Cua clarified that this includes bills such as electricity, water, and other types of bills.
- GLUTINOUS PRODUCTS
Another common Filipino practice during Chinese New Year is the display of Tikoy, noodles, and dumplings that are all made of glutinous products. This is a staple because of the stickiness and sweetness to ensure that each of the family members enjoys a sweeter life and will stick together.
- ROLLING KIAT KIAT OR THROW COINS IN THE HOUSE.
According to Master Hanz Cua, rolling kiat-kiat fruits or throwing coins inside the house should be done as you greet Chinese New Year’s Eve. Hanz explained that Kiat-Kiat is like money, and rolling it in the house symbolizes fortune entering your home. The same goes for throwing coins inside the house.
- STICK PAPER BILLS ON THE DOOR AND UNDER THE BED
The act of putting bills on the door and under the bed is believed to attract wealth.
- MAKE THE CASHBOX FULL
You can make the cash box full by not only putting money but also putting rice, salt, powdered milk, and sugar so that luck is overflowing.
- SERVE 12 KINDS OF FRUITS.
Serving 12 kinds of fruits on your tables symbolizes a prosperous 12 months.
- WEAR RED OR POLKA DOT CLOTHES DURING CHINESE NEW YEAR.
Wearing red clothes or clothes with polka dots for luck. You can also wear emerald green, rich red, or golden yellow because these three colors are the lucky colors for Chinese New Year 2024, which embodies the color of a dragon that signifies power, strength, and success in Chinese culture.
- DISPLAY LUCKY CHARMS
The best lucky charms to be displayed for this year’s Chinese New Year are charms that are in connection with the element of the wooden dragon, such as the Green Jade Plant, Dragon Statue, and Bamboo Tree.
To partake in Feng Shui practices has been part of the Filipino during New Year and most especially during Chinese New Year. Despite the lack of scientific basis, there is nothing wrong with doing these practices.
However, let us remember that our luck is not solely based on these practices. These are mere guidelines, and our luck is up to what we do in daily life.
