Not done with celebrations? Easy ways to join in with Chinese New Year this weekend
Ensure yourself and your kids a little good luck in this brand new year of the Horse, even if you don’t have time for lots of advance preparation. Here’s how to do it:
1. Put out some oranges and tangerines.
You’ll do more than ward away a cold if you indulge in citrus on Chinese New Year. Tangerines and oranges symbolise luck and wealth, respectively.
2. Print out a good luck symbol.
The Chinese word "fu" is the word for good luck. Draw it yourself on red paper, or print out an online template and have your kids colour it, then hang it on your front door upside down to help ensure that good luck arrives in your home.
3. Order Chinese takeaway.
Certain dishes bring the best luck for the new year. Start with dumplings and spring rolls (which symbolise wealth), then have noodles (the long noodles signify a long life) and whole fish or whole chicken, which will bring you good wishes and prosperity. Skip the tofu - it's white, which is the colour the Chinese associate with death, and it brings a bad omen to the new year.
4. Stuff some red envelopes.
The traditional Chinese New Year red envelopes (called hong bao) are usually adorned with gold Chinese characters offering good wishes, but those leftover red envelopes from Christmas cards are perfect. Put in eight dollars for each child, as eight is an especially lucky number in China.
