Origins
The festival is thousands of years old and according to one legend a hideous monster, Nian, would come about every New Year’s Eve and feast on human flesh. Whilst most people would hide in their homes, one boy fought the monster off using firecrackers, sparking celebrations for days to follow using even more firecrackers and lanterns. Click here for The Nian Monster (US edition). Click here for Jia and The Nian Monster (UK edition).Good Luck
Nowadays people still celebrate by using firecrackers and as a sign of good luck, they also burn fake money and printed gold bars.Family Time
As tradition demands the Spring Festival is a family celebration and you should spend your time with them. For many, their parents still live in rural villages. This creates the biggest yearly people migration as everyone heads home. This Spring Migration is called Chunyun.
Taboo or not Taboo
If it is your first time celebrating the Lunar New Year you might want to check out what you are not allowed to do before the fifth day of the festival:- Showering
- Sweeping
- Throwing out the garbage
- Arguing, swearing
- Saying unlucky things
Red Envelopes
It’s a tradition for children to receive red envelopes, also called red packets. Each envelope contains money and it’s a symbolic way to pass the fortune from the elders to the younger members of the family. Why not try and craft some red envelopes with your children. Click here for the full instructions.
It’s All About The Food
Like any other good celebration, there is always some great food to be shared. In this case, we are talking about dessert. Nian Gao, a kind of rice cake, is often shared as it symbolizes success for every year to come. Click here for a full recipe to try at home. Fa Gao, a mix between a sponge cake and a muffin, is dyed in festive colors and is a symbol of wealth. Why not try this at home.Red Is The New Black
Red is a powerful color in Chinese culture and it’s also one of the things Nian (the monster we talked about before) is scared of. So, most families will decorate their houses with red lanterns and strings of chili peppers. They will also decorate their doors and windows with red paper.Happy New Year
It’s always good to make an effort into learning at least a few words to wish a Happy New Year: Xin Nian Kuai Le Although if you are in Hong Kong or other Cantonese speaking countries you might want to say: Gong Hei Fat Choy For Mandarin Chinese: Gong Xi Fa Cai. You may also like these articles from Bébé Voyage:
Family Friendly Stockholm Hotels
Stockholm, Sweden, being the child-friendly city that it is, is home to a vast collection of comfortable and colorful hotels for visiting families. Spend the
Serena Minott on the Importance of Diversity in Children’s Books
Looking for More Diversity in Children’s Books? Meet Mompreneur Serena Minott, Founder of Ashima and Creator of the book: The Amazing Adventures of Aya &
Baby Friendly Chicago Gardens
Despite Chicago’s status as the third largest U.S. city, it still holds a treasure trove of beautiful, baby friendly gardens. From the sprawling Chicago Botanic
Budapest with Kids
Budapest – the capital of Hungary – is an amazing and diverse city in central Europe but it’s often underrated. I live here with my
Baby Friendly Beaches Around the World
Finding baby friendly beaches can be a real conundrum, especially if you plan to travel far from home. Thankfully, our Club Bébé Voyage parents have
Travel Making a Comeback and More Reflections on 2022
What’s Abuzz in the Bébé Voyage Community If there was ever any doubt about travel making a comeback after the pandemic, our Bébé Voyage community
Responses