Before the festival begins, houses are supposed to be cleaned and doorways are decorated with red phrases and poems. Red is the luckiest color and symbolizes good fortune and happiness. During the festival, red envelopes with money are given to younger family members. It is supposed to be money for suppressing the evil spirits but it usually ends up spent at 7-11. The amount of money given in the red envelopes should be lucky. Odd numbers are bad. Even numbers are good. Except four. Four is very unlucky because 四 [four] sounds like 死 [death]. Children will literally beg for these red envelopes and it is unlucky for the parents, aunts, uncles to say no.
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4 comments:
In Japan they still count the years by the emperor. This year is 2011, but it is also Heisei 平成 23. A lot of official forms and such still use the Japanese way of reckoning, which is the only reason I know that I was born in Showa 昭和56, or the 56th year of the reigh of Hirohito.
I love theee Festivals.
Lots of celebrations and tasty food, very fun time, even better than Jan 1st!
I don't know what Chinese year I was born in. It varies depending who you talk to.
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