The lunar new year is not only the celebration of a new beginning, rather one marking the start of the spring season and being able to say goodbye to all the misadventures of the past year, essentially scraping the slate clean and getting the chance to
begin anew with a good state of mind.Many of the new year traditions include:
- Decorating your homes with red things
- Offering a sacrifice to your ancestors
- Gift exchange with family and friends.
- Celebrating with fireworks and lanterns during the festival
- Watching dragon and lion dances
- Consuming lucky foods including fish, dumplings, spring rolls, and more
- Reuniting with your family to celebrate with dinner on the eve of the lunar new year
How should you be preparing for the new year?Preparing for one of the biggest days of the year for any culture isn’t a small thing. Usually, these preparations start in advance. The transition to a new year symbolizes ridding the old and embracing the new. Here are a few ways to do so:
Cleaning your house
This acts as a symbol for cleansing away the past year and starting with a clean slate both physically and mentally.
Putting up decorations
The Lunar new year is considered a festival of bright colors, and decorations play a huge role in representing so.
Preparing for a week-long celebration
The Chinese New Year celebrations typically last up to 15 days.
Preparing gifts for friends and family
This is an important aspect of the new year, usually dictated by traditions. Money is also gifted in sealed red envelopes.
New wardrobe
The year is celebrated by treating oneself with new clothes, accessories, jewelry, nail polish, etc. (any excuse to go shopping, right?)
One big aspect of the new year is the symbolism of the color Red, for it relates to energy and fire, symbolizing celebration, prosperity, vitality, and all the good things to come!
Hence, it is not uncommon for women's decorations, clothing, accessories to be red or have accents of
Red.It is also considered to bring you
good luck by painting your nails with a splash of red, organic nail polish.
Considering how celebrations can go up to 15 days, you'd want to preferably use a non-toxic and long-lasting polish that does not have a negative impact on your nail health.