Expat's Guide to Chinese New Year Customs in Hong Kong
Chinese New Year (CNY), or 春節 (Chūnjié), is the most significant and widely celebrated festival in Hong Kong, marked by an array of traditions, family reunions, and festive events. If you’re an expat in Hong Kong, this is an exciting time to immerse yourself in local culture and join in the celebrations. Understanding the customs, practices, and etiquette surrounding Chinese New Year will enrich your experience and help you navigate the festivities with confidence.
Here’s a guide to the most important Chinese New Year customs in Hong Kong, from cleaning your home to giving gifts and participating in the famous CNY events.
1. The Lead-Up to Chinese New Year: Preparation and Traditions
The period leading up to Chinese New Year is just as important as the celebrations themselves. People prepare their homes, buy special foods, and take part in customs believed to ensure good fortune for the year ahead.
House Cleaning (掃塵, Sǎo Chén)
Why it’s done: In Chinese culture, cleaning the house before the New Year is a symbolic way to sweep away bad luck, negative energy, and misfortune from the past year. It’s also a fresh start, making room for wealth and happiness to enter the home in the coming year.
When to clean: Most cleaning is done in the days leading up to Chinese New Year, but avoid sweeping on the first few days of the New Year itself, as it’s believed to sweep away newly arrived good luck.
Shopping for New Clothes
Why it’s done: Wearing new clothes symbolizes a fresh start and is said to bring good luck for the year ahead. It’s common to buy clothes in bright colors, especially red, which symbolizes prosperity, good fortune, and happiness.
Tip for Expats: You’ll find that shopping malls in Hong Kong are full of New Year-themed sales in the days leading up to CNY, with everything from clothing to food and decor available for purchase.
Decorating the Home
Key items:
Red Decorations: Red is the color of good fortune and prosperity. Homes are decorated with red lanterns, banners, and the word 福 (fú), meaning "good fortune," often displayed upside down to signify that good luck is "arriving."
Couplets (春聯, Chūn Lián): These are poetic phrases written on red paper, often placed on doorways. They carry wishes for a prosperous year ahead.
Flowers and Plants: Flowers like 桃花 (peach blossoms, symbolizing good fortune) and 金桔 (kumquat trees, symbolizing wealth) are popular decorations.
2. Chinese New Year’s Eve: A Family-Centered Celebration
Chinese New Year’s Eve is a time for families to come together and celebrate. The evening is filled with significant rituals, large family meals, and various customs aimed at ensuring a prosperous year.
Reunion Dinner (團圓飯, Tuányuán Fàn)
Why it’s important: The reunion dinner is the most important meal of the year. It’s a time for families to gather, often from across different regions, and enjoy a lavish feast together.
Common dishes:
魚 (Yú): Symbolizing abundance, as the word for fish sounds like “surplus.”
餃子 (Jiǎozi): Symbolizing wealth, as their shape resembles ancient Chinese gold ingots.
年糕 (Nián Gāo): A sticky rice cake that symbolizes progress and growth, as the word “nian” also means “year” and implies the idea of rising year by year.
Tip for Expats: This is a great opportunity to try a variety of traditional dishes, many of which are unique to the CNY season and vary from family to family.
Offering to Ancestors
Why it’s done: Many families honor their ancestors by offering food and incense during the reunion dinner. This is a way of paying respects and seeking blessings from deceased family members for the year ahead.
Sending Off the Kitchen God (灶神, Zàoshén)
Why it’s done: Before Chinese New Year, families will offer food and incense to the Kitchen God, asking for good fortune and protection for the household. On New Year’s Eve, the Kitchen God is believed to leave to report to the Jade Emperor. The family will offer gifts and burn incense to see him off.
3. The First Day of Chinese New Year: Family and Rituals
The first day of Chinese New Year marks the start of the festivities and is typically dedicated to family, visiting relatives, and honoring deities.
Visiting Relatives and Friends
Why it’s done: The first day is typically spent visiting close family and friends, offering well-wishes for prosperity, health, and happiness in the coming year. It’s also a time to give gifts, particularly red envelopes.
Tip for Expats: As an expat, you may be invited to visit local friends or neighbors. It’s customary to greet them with the phrase “恭喜發財” (Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái), which means “Wishing you wealth and prosperity.”
Giving Red Envelopes (紅包, Hóngbāo)
Why it’s done: Red envelopes filled with money are given as gifts, especially to children and unmarried adults. The money inside symbolizes good luck and fortune, and the red color is thought to ward off evil spirits. The amount of money is typically an even number, as odd numbers are associated with funerals.
Tip for Expats: If you’re invited to a Chinese New Year celebration, it’s polite to offer a red envelope if you’re giving a gift to a child or close friend. The amount doesn’t have to be large, but it’s considered thoughtful.
4. Festivities and Public Events: Parades and Fireworks
In addition to family-centered customs, public events and large-scale celebrations are an essential part of Chinese New Year in Hong Kong. These events are full of color, culture, and excitement.
Hong Kong Chinese New Year Parade
When it happens: The parade typically takes place on the second day of Chinese New Year, featuring floats, traditional lion dances, dragon dances, and cultural performances.
What to expect: The parade is a spectacle of lights, costumes, and music. It’s an excellent opportunity for expats to witness Hong Kong’s vibrant cultural celebrations and see various performances from local and international groups.
Fireworks Display
When it happens: One of the most exciting parts of Chinese New Year in Hong Kong is the stunning fireworks display, which takes place on the evening of the second day of the new year.
Where to watch: The fireworks can be viewed from locations along Victoria Harbour, including 尖沙咀 (Tsim Sha Tsui) and 中環 (Central). Crowds gather for the event, which lasts around 20 minutes and fills the sky with spectacular colors.
5. The Rest of the Week: Good Fortune and Celebrations
The days following the first day of Chinese New Year are filled with more family visits, temple prayers, and traditional practices. It’s also a time for expats to explore other local customs.
Visiting Temples
Why it’s done: Many people visit Buddhist or Taoist temples during Chinese New Year to pray for good health, prosperity, and blessings in the coming year. Temples such as 文武廟 (Man Mo Temple) or 黃大仙祠 (Wong Tai Sin Temple) are popular spots.
Tip for Expats: If you’re curious about Hong Kong’s spiritual traditions, visiting a temple can offer insight into the local practices. Be sure to dress modestly and respect the customs of the temple.
Lion and Dragon Dances
Why it’s done: The lion and dragon dances are performed in the streets during Chinese New Year to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck. The dance is accompanied by loud drumming and cymbals.
Tip for Expats: You’ll likely see lion and dragon dances performed in shopping malls, on the streets, and even at businesses. Don’t be afraid to join in the excitement!
Embracing the Spirit of Chinese New Year in Hong Kong
Chinese New Year in Hong Kong is a time for celebration, family bonding, spiritual practices, and cultural immersion. As an expat, taking part in these customs—whether it's sharing a reunion dinner, offering red envelopes, or enjoying the vibrant parades—will give you a deeper understanding of the local culture and create lasting memories. Embrace the festive atmosphere, enjoy the food and traditions, and wish everyone around you a prosperous new year!
