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<h2>1. The legend of 福 (fú)</h2>
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<p>The character itself means blessing, good fortune, and happiness. But have you ever wondered why the Chinese character 福 (fú) is stuck upside down during Chinese New Year celebrations? </p>
<p>Well, <b>it was an honest mistake</b>, according to legends. </p>
<p>The founder of the Ming dynasty, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, once ordered every household to decorate their homes by pasting the character 福 (fú) on their doors. Families were illiterate, and <b>one family stuck it upside down without realising it.</b></p>
<p>On New Year&#8217;s Day, the emperor sent troops to inspect whether the villagers had obeyed his mandate. Soldiers found the illiterate family&#8217;s poster and reported it to the emperor. Furious, the emperor ordered the family to be executed.</p>
<p>But the emperor&#8217;s kind and merciful wife, Empress Ma, came to the family&#8217;s defence and told the emperor, &#8220;That family knew you were coming today, so they deliberately turned the label upside down. <b>Doesn&#8217;t this mean that blessings have arrived (福到, fúdào)?</b>&#8220;</p>
<p>The Chinese characters for &#8220;arrive&#8221; (到, dào) and &#8220;upside down&#8221; (倒, dào) sound similar. </p>
<p>The emperor found the explanation sensible and decided to spare the family. Thus, a tragedy was averted. Since then, people began putting up decorations with the character 福 upside down, hoping to attract<b>&nbsp;prosperity and to honour Empress Ma.</b></p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://duchinese.net/lessons/074-upside-down-happiness-character" rel="noopener">Du Chinese</a></small>
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<h2>2. Nian: the beast that started Chinese New Year</h2>
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<p><p>We probably wouldn&#8217;t have a lively, red Chinese New Year if it weren&#8217;t for this terrifying mythical beast called Nian (年).</p>
<p>Nian had the body of a lion and the head of an ox, and the monster would terrorise villages on the eve of the New Year, devouring livestock and killing people. A god, disguised as a wise old man, visited the village and taught the people how to drive away Nian.</p>
<p>He told them that <b>the monster was afraid of the colour red and loud noises.</b> So, the villagers protected their homes by dressing up in red clothes, putting up red decorations on their doors, and setting off firecrackers to scare away Nian. <b>This proved successful, and Nian never appeared again.</b></p>
<p>That&#8217;s why we have sleepless nights on New Year&#8217;s Eve, and also why we have the saying <i>guò nián</i>&nbsp;(过年). The character 过 can mean &#8220;cross&#8221; or &#8220;pass&#8221;, while the monster&#8217;s name and the word for &#8220;year&#8221; are written the same way in Mandarin. So, the saying means &#8220;to celebrate the New Year&#8221;, but it also sounds like &#8220;overcoming Nian&#8221;.</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/Nian.htm" rel="noopener">nationsonline.org</a></small>
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<h2>3. The origin of ang pows</h2>
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<p><p>Receiving ang pows is one of the best parts of the Chinese New Year celebrations (don&#8217;t lie, it&#8217;s literally free money). But its <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://says.com/my/lifestyle/the-history-of-ang-pow-and-why-its-given-out-for-chinese-new-year">origin</a>&nbsp;stems from <b>an attempt t</b><b>o scare away an evil spirit</b>.</p>
<p>It was said that this evil spirit, named Sui, was known to appear every Chinese New Year&#8217;s Eve to pat the heads of sleeping children three times. The children would wake up the next morning with a terrible fever, or sometimes, they wouldn&#8217;t wake up at all.</p>
<p>A worried couple prayed to their god to protect their newborn child. Hearing their prayers, the god sent eight fairies to help the family. To trick the demon, the fairies transformed themselves into eight coins,﻿ which were then wrapped in red paper and placed under the infant&#8217;s pillow.</p>
<p>When Sui came, <strong>beams of golden light burst out from the red paper and scared Sui away</strong>.</p>
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<p>From then on, parents started giving children money wrapped in red paper on Chinese New Year&#8217;s Eve. <strong>Over time, ang pows ceased to become protectors from evil spirits and became a symbol of well wishes and blessings for children.</strong></p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-red-envelopes-6691720/" rel="noopener">RDNE Stock project/Pexels</a></small>
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<h2>4. The Chinese [zodiac] (https://says.com/my/stories/tagged/zodiac) cycle</h2>
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<p><p>Every Chinese New Year, stores sell decorative items featuring different zodiac animals for that year. But where do all these animals come from?</p>
<p>Legend has it that the Jade Emperor organised a race to determine the order of the Chinese zodiac. The <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://says.com/my/lifestyle/rat-full-zodiac-reading-2024">rat</a>, clever and resourceful, won by hitching a ride on the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://says.com/my/lifestyle/ox-full-zodiac-reading-2024">ox</a>&#8216;s back. And so, the rat and the ox hold the first and second place in the zodiac cycle, respectively.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://says.com/my/lifestyle/pig-full-zodiac-reading-2024">pig</a> came last. They are different variations as to why he finished last in the race. Some legends say it was because he was lazy and overslept, while others say he had stopped for a snack.</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/sex-and-love/a39194473/chinese-zodiac-compatibility/" rel="noopener">Christine Giordano/Women&#8217;s Health</a></small>
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<h2>5. The red underwear tradition</h2>
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<p><p>Speaking of zodiac cycles, it is believed that you are more prone to catching the attention of malicious spirits during your zodiac animal year (<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://says.com/my/lifestyle/dragon-full-zodiac-reading-2024">Dragon babies</a>, beware!).</p>
<p>Similar to the story of Nian, there&#8217;s a way you can safeguard yourself. And that&#8217;s by wearing as much red as possible, particularly your underwear.</p>
<p>It may sound like a foolish superstition, but according to a 2023 <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/19/opinions/lunar-new-year-traditions-red-underwear-hua-ctrp/index.html">CNN</a> article, Google searches for &#8220;red underwear Chinese New Year&#8221; typically rise in the weeks leading up to the holiday.﻿</p>
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<h2>6. The story of the Lantern Festival</h2>
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<p>The Chinese Lantern Festival takes places on the fifteenth day of Chinese New Year, marking the end of the festive celebration. During the occasion, people light thousands of paper lanterns and release them into the night sky. However, the festival&#8217;s origin isn&#8217;t quite as beautiful as a sky full of lanterns.</p>
<p>Supposedly, the <b>Jade Emperor&#8217;s favourite crane was killed by some villagers</b>, so he wanted to take revenge by burning down their village on the 15th day of the first lunar month. When his daughter heard about her father&#8217;s plan, she felt sorry for the hapless villagers and secretly warned them about what was going to happen.</p>
<p>To save themselves, the villagers decided to trick the Jade Emperor into thinking their village was already on fire. They did this by hanging red lanterns, setting off firecrackers, and lighting fires throughout the village. <b>From the heavens, it appeared as though the Earth was on fire</b>, so the Jade Emperor didn&#8217;t carry out his plan.﻿</p>
<p>Afterwards, residents continued to light firecrackers and hang red lanterns every year to commemorate the event. </p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/group-of-people-gathering-for-a-paper-lantern-festival-aNoW1UZnXEo" rel="noopener">Jenny Le/Unsplash</a></small>
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<h2>Ever wondered why specific snacks are enjoyed during Chinese New Year? We covered it here:</h2>
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<p>A little tidbit about these CNY tidbits.</p>
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<h2>Check out more [#CNY2024] (https://says.com/my/stories/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&#038;q=cny+2024) stories on SAYS:</h2>
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<p>If you haven&#8217;t bought yours yet.</p>
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<p>New year, new opportunities&#8230; for wealth!</p>
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<p>I&#8217;m still unlucky regardless of whether I actually do these things.</p>
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<p>The day physical ang pows are no more is the day I&#8217;ll riot.</p>
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6 Folklores & Legends That Shape How We Spend Our Chinese New Year

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<h2>1. Wearing more casual clothing while house visiting</h2>
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<p>When you visit your friends&#8217; and family&#8217;s houses, you would typically wear traditional Chinese clothing such as the <i>cheongsam</i> or the <i>tang</i> suit. However in recent years, it is becoming less common, especially among the younger generation. People have opted for more casual wear like a basic T-shirt and jeans when they visit their families during the festive season.</p>
<p>Also, people often dress in red, yellow or gold clothing&nbsp;during Chinese New Year, as these colours are believed to represent luck, success, and positivity. Meanwhile, it was considered a taboo to wear black or white attire because they are traditionally associated with mourning. However, people wear whatever they like nowadays.</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/boy-and-girl-standing-in-front-of-their-parents-6691856/" rel="noopener">RDNE Stock project/Pexels</a></small>
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<h2>2. Giving out e-<em>ang pow</em></h2>
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<p>Let&#8217;s be honest, receiving red packets with money is probably one of the highlights of our Chinese New Year celebrations. While the tradition of <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://says.com/my/lifestyle/the-history-of-ang-pow-and-why-its-given-out-for-chinese-new-year">giving out </a><i><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://says.com/my/lifestyle/the-history-of-ang-pow-and-why-its-given-out-for-chinese-new-year">ang pows</a></i> is still prevalent, there&#8217;s a slight change in the way it&#8217;s done.</p>
<p>Some families are moving towards electronic transactions, transferring money online instead of using physical red packets. Virual <i>ang pows</i> were popular, especially during the pandemic, because family members were not able to visit their hometowns and it was hassle-free.</p>
<p>Many platforms such as Touch &#8216;n Go e-wallet app and Maybank&#8217;s MAE App have introduced features that allow people to send out their red packets of blessings. But there&#8217;s just no replacing the joy of opening up these little red gifts.</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-holding-a-red-envelope-7363776/" rel="noopener">Angela Roma/Pexels</a></small>
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<h2>3. Putting up minimalist, and not always the traditional red, decorations</h2>
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<p>It was really common to see families go all out with their Chinese New Year decorations. The whole house would be a delightful red clutter of traditional symbols and ornaments such as lanterns, paper cuttings, and decorative items featuring the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://says.com/my/lifestyle/richest-chinese-zodiac-animals-2024">zodiac animal of the year</a>.</p>
<p>However, with changing lifestyles and generational shifts, some families have been opting for more simple decorations. Some even choose not to put these decorations up at all.</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/family-putting-hanging-lanterns-on-curtains-9016237/" rel="noopener">Kevin Malik/Pexels</a></small>
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<h2>4. Ordering in CNY dishes, instead of communal cooking</h2>
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<p>For any celebration, the food is always the fun part. But what makes it more fun was the communal experience of preparing traditional festive delicacies in the kitchen.</p>
<p>Multiple generations often huddle together in the kitchen to make traditional dishes such as spring rolls, <i>niangao</i>, and <i><a href="https://says.com/my/lifestyle/yee-sang-101-chinese-phrases-to-say">yee sang</a></i>. However, many of these dishes can now be found in supermarkets nearing the festive season, and many families prefer the convenience of buying ready-made festive treats.</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-family-eating-together-7363743/" rel="noopener">Angela Roma/Pexels</a></small>
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<h2>5. Not worshipping the Kitchen God</h2>
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<p>If you ask anyone, particularly those from the younger generation, whether they know or have heard of the Kitchen God, they&#8217;d probably say no.</p>
<p>The Kitchen God is a deity that makes a year-end report about each human&#8217;s good and evil deeds to the Jade Emperor of heaven. According to legend, families would get anxious about their evil deeds being exposed to the emperor, so they would burn incense, set off firecrackers, and worship the god with &#8216;bribery&#8217; like cakes, nuts, and dried fruits. Then, the Kitchen God will only report their good deeds. </p>
<p>Nowadays, most households use electric cookers instead of traditional kitchen stoves, so the Kitchen God rituals aren&#8217;t as common as they were in the past.</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://en.vietnamplus.vn/worship-of-kitchen-gods-beautiful-custom-of-tet/221200.vnp" rel="noopener">laodong.vn/Vietnam Plus</a></small>
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<h2>These traditions are what make Chinese New Year feel meaningful. Here&#8217;s what else you can do:</h2>
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<p>Chinese New Year is not only about good food and money. Try something new this year to make your celebration a little more meaningful and memorable.</p>
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<h2>Chinese New Year things you should be well aware of:</h2>
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<p>Your mum would say all these rules are for your own good!</p>
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<p>If you don&#8217;t know any other greeting besides &#8216;Gong Xi Fa Chai&#8217;, it&#8217;s time you learn some new ones!</p>
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<p>Huat ah!</p>
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<h2>Here are some zodiac stories to read as we&#8217;re nearing the festive season:</h2>
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<p>Cats catch rats.</p>
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<p>But there are ways to counter this so you can still have a great year!</p>
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<p>All you need is love! But if you also need money, we have an article on that too.</p>
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5 Chinese New Year Traditions That We've Seen Change Over The Years