8 Lucky Things You Can Do For Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year (also commonly associated with Chinese New Year) is just around the corner and it's time to start thinking about what you're going to do to usher in good luck and prosperity! Whether you're new to the festivities or just don't know where to start, here are 8 lucky things you can do to welcome a prosperous year ahead:

1. Clean your home

If you don't already know, cleaning your home before the Lunar New Year is a must-do tradition. It symbolizes sweeping away any bad luck from the previous year and making room for new luck and fortune. Make sure to clean every corner of your home, including windows and doors, to let the positive energy flow in.

That being said, it’s a big no to sweep the floors and taking out the trash until the 5th day of the Lunar New Year as it’s believed that it will shoo away good luck that entered your house.

2. Decorate, decorate, decorate!

As soon as you have cleaned your house, it is time to decorate your home with auspicious items and colors. There is a belief that red and gold are the traditional colors of the Lunar New Year and these are said to bring good fortune. Other traditional decorations include lanterns, Chinese knots, and plants.

3. Eat traditional foods

Food plays a big role in the Lunar New Year celebrations. If you don't already know, each dish has a specific meaning behind them. For example, dumplings symbolize wealth, and noodles represent longevity. Make sure to include these traditional foods in your feasts!

4 Give red envelopes

Traditionally, red envelopes (红包) are small red packets containing money that are given to family, friends and employees to signify good luck. While it's customary to give red envelopes to children and unmarried adults, you can also give them to anyone you want to wish them a prosperous year ahead!

5. Wear new clothes

One of the oldest practices to symbolize the start of a new year is by wearing new clothes. This also represents the idea of change and new beginnings. Although red is always the preferred color for the festive season, you can opt for other bright-colored outfits too.

6. Light firecrackers

Firecrackers were initially used in traditional Chinese culture to frighten away bad spirits and celebrate the coming of the new year. If loud noises aren't your thing, try making paper firecrackers to decorate your home.

7. Have a reunion dinner with your family

Having a family dinner is a great way to bring everyone together and ensure that the new year starts off on the right foot. It's also a chance to bond with relatives who you rarely see.

8. Make a New Year's resolution

Last but not least, make a New Year's resolution. It's a great chance to set goals for yourself and work towards achieving them. Make sure to write down your resolution and keep it in a visible place, so you can remind yourself of it throughout the year.