Cheat Sheet: Gong Xi Fa Cai!
“Gong Xi, Gong Xi” music in every store heralds Chinese New Year, arguably Singapore’s most boisterous calendar event. Here’s our cheat sheet to the lucky 8 Chinese New Year traditions!
1. Black is out, red is in
Red is the new black, people. We recommend wearing red everything to usher in more prosperity and good luck. For the more adventurous, don kitschy undies with the Chinese word 福 (meaning happiness or blessing) on them. Wearing black is taboo because it construes bad luck and death.
2. Oranges are the most important fruit
Nervous about visiting your boss’ homes? All you really need: your most winning smile, a pair of juicy-looking mandarin oranges, and a loud “Gong Xi Fa Cai!”. Exchanging oranges is a customary formality dating back to ancient China and conveys your wishes for an auspicious New Year to your hosts. It’ll ensure you get a nice spot at the reunion dinner table (near to all the succulent meats too!). Bring two gorgeous mandarins (even the guy at Cold Storage will help you choose!) and don’t forget to receive oranges in return from your hosts before you leave. Basically, the custom is that the host is far too prosperous to receive all of your oranges, and can share the wealth by giving you one back in return.
3. Red packet rules
What is every little kid’s favourite CNY moment? Receiving angbaos (red packets) full of moolah from doting relatives and random adults, that’s what. When prepping your own red packet giveaway, only use even numbers ($2 if you’re stingy, $20 for your favourite niece), and get fresh, crisp notes from the bank (get there like, NOW, to make sure they don’t run out!). Married folks can show some love to your unmarried single friends/colleagues too. Do NOT give any amount that ends in “4”, as it sounds too similar for the Chinese word for “death”. Psst: stand out from the crowd with these fun, festive angbaos from &plentymore, available on www.italicandbold.com.
4. Spring-cleaning 101
The coolest thing about CNY is the fact that housework is completely banned – yup, we hear your cheers! Spring-cleaning, which symbolises sweeping away bad luck and starting afresh, should be completed by CNY eve. Go traditional and turn on the lights in every room upon the stroke of midnight to usher in a bright and cheery lunar new year too.
5. Tossing yu sheng
Always wanted to make a mess on the dinner table and get away with it? Your opportunity has arrived. “Lo hei”, a Cantonese phrase meaning “tossing up good fortune”, sees large groups wielding chopsticks and shouting the appropriate greetings when adding each component into yu sheng, a dish containing raw fish, veggies and the like. Psst: the higher you toss, the greater your fortune!
6. Bye-bye sharp stuff
Stash all those gleaming kitchen knives away! Superstition dictates that their sharpness might deter bringing more luck your way. Also, making a trip to the hairdresser’s during CNY is a huge no-no since they might snip off your chances at enjoying good fortune, but you are forewarned – hairdressers usually charge twice the price to get your tresses trimmed during this time!
7. Vocabulary overhaul
Refrain from negative utterances and attitudes even if you encounter horrid traffic jams and unruly crowds. What’s compulsory? Spreading goodwill wherever you go. Pick up a few choice CNY greetings and prevent your kids from squabbling (some yummy pineapple tarts should appease them).
8. Get your fortune read
This is a little unconventional, but hey, we’re all about getting the most out of CNY. Chinatown has a wealth of fortune-tellers ready to share mystical (and sometimes accurate) predictions about your life, so satisfy your curiosity this year and beat the Chingay parade crush too.
Images: &plentymore, Chinatown Festivals Facebook, YourSingapore Facebook
