Must-Know Custom About Chinese New Year Eve
As the last day of a lunar year, Chinese New Year Eve is considered as a very important day for Taiwanese. To meet a bright and brand-new year, there are lots of traditional customs to follow. Here, MyProGuide is going to share the two most essential customs with you so that you may have a good fortune in the new year. Let’s check it out!
Custom About Chinese New Year Eve | Spring Cleaning
As a traditional custom in the whole East Asia, such as China and Japan, spring cleaning is a must do before the first day of Chinese New Year, because it represents “Out with the old, in with the new”.
Make sure you finish cleaning by Chinese New Year Eve, since traditionally you shouldn’t sweep or clean the house during the first few days of the new year. People believe this keeps the good fortune and wealth inside the house.
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Custom About Chinese New Year Eve | Pasting the Spring Couplets
The custom of pasting spring couplets is said to come from the legend of Nian, a man-eating monster that was believed to be afraid of the color red, fire and loud noises. Therefore, in addition to setting off firecrackers, people pasted the red spring couplets on the doors, gateposts, and walls, which are seen as decorations that bring good fortune now.
Besides, the spring couplets could be divided into two kinds - the image of gods and the words couplets. And they have different usages separately.
The images of gods are pasted on the doors, so Taiwanese call them Door Gods. They usually come in a pair, one on each door panel, facing each other, and many families choose an auspicious time (often the morning of New Year’s Eve) to put them up. Oh, and don’t be scared by the fierce faces of the Door Gods: one of their jobs is to scare away evil spirits.
The other kind is the word couplets: usually three pieces of Chinese blessing words, one posted above the door and one on each side of it. Remember to remove the old ones completely and stick the new ones on neatly, which is why this part of the custom is thought to be the most time-consuming.
Learn them well after reading? If you find it hard to remember them all, just treat them as fun facts. MyProGuide wishes you a happy Chinese New Year!
* Related article: 10 Must Know Meanings About Chinese New Year’s Food
* Want a local to show you how Taiwan celebrates? Find a guide on MyProGuide or browse our Taiwan tours
Cover photo: Ralff Nestor Nacor, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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