For westerners, the new year begins on January 1st with champagne and the ball drop. However, this is not the case for many. This year Lunar new year, otherwise known as Chinese New Year, began on January 25th, making 2020 the year of the rat. With this new year, comes another set of traditions and customs complete with firecrackers and fireworks.
Luck and wealth are two big elements to the celebration of the Chinese New Year. The most common color you will see is red because it symbolizes good luck in Chinese culture. One of the best ways to celebrate the Chinese New Year, though, is through food. The common foods eaten during the holiday are considered lucky if the name of the food sounds like Chinese words for luck, or depending on the symbolism and meaning behind the dish.
Some of the most popular Chinese New Year foods are citrus fruits. These fruits are often gifted to one another. The word orange or tangerine sounds like success in the Chinese language which is one of the reasons it is so popular. Longevity noodles are another common dish for the new year. According to Chinese culture, the longer the noodles the better because it represents long life. If you’re interested in learning more about Chinese New Year, check out these unbelievable facts.