Lunar New Year Traditions
Even though I was born and raised in the States, my family always hung Chinese couplets around the house during Lunar New Year—a tradition that felt special and grounding. Now that I’ve moved to the city, I’ve started creating my own couplets, finding new ways to continue this meaningful tradition in my own style.
Whenever I can, I visit my family during Lunar New Year. I am grateful that my parents valued their kids to have a strong appreciation for our Taiwanese culture.
Some Lunar New Year traditions we follow:
Wearing red on New Year’s Eve.
Giving offerings to ancestors on New Year’s Eve.
Cleaning the home before New Year’s Day but not on the day itself.
Hanging couplets on New Year’s Eve.
Giving red envelopes to nephews (the amount needs to be an even number without any four digits).
Placing red envelopes under the pillow on New Year’s Eve.
Wearing new clothes on New Year’s Day.
Avoid washing clothes or taking out the trash on New Year’s Day.
While these traditions may seem superstitious to some, they make me feel connected to my heritage and roots.
