8 Must-have Auspicious Items for this Chinese New Year
1. CNY Doormat
Image Credit: Independent Market
What is the first sign when guests come to your house? Yes, your door mat!
Welcome prosperity to your home all year round with this auspicious doormat! ‘Huat’ means ‘to prosper’ (发) in Hokkien. This is a phrase commonly used to welcome prosperity. Bring back this sweet and blessing door mat to welcoming your guests today!
Where to buy: Click Here
2. CNY Snacks Tray
Image Credit: Shopee
Most of the Chinese will gathering with family & friends on Chinese New Year. A Chinese New Year Candy Box, also mentioned as Tray of Togetherness is on the coffee table ready to serve them. The tray with six to eight compartments filled with special treats. The number six symbolizes luck and eight symbolizes fortune. It’s usually round to signify togetherness and red is the favourite colour because it symbolizes joy and good luck. Each compartment is filled with pumpkin/sunflower seeds, dried or candied fruits, nuts, and candies signifying a good wish for the New Year. In short, it is a box of blessings for an abundant life in the coming year.
Here is some snacks may find in the candy box:
- Peanuts : signifies good health and longevity
- Candied winter melon & candied ginger: signifies growth and good health
- Pistachios : signifies happiness
- Pumpkin/ sunflower/ melon seeds: signifies fertility many offspring
- Chocolate gold: signifies wealth and prosperity
- Small candies: signifies pleasant and enjoyable time (the sweet life)
And don’t forget put some mandarin oranges beside the Tray of Togetherness. They are perfect match.
(Article from: Linda, Chinese New Year Candy Box (Tray of Togetherness)
https://www.malaysianchinesekitchen.com/ chinese-new-year-candy-box-tray-of-togetherness/)
Where to buy: Click Here
3. Red Packet
Image Credit: 2B Printing
Why must have red packet in Chinese New Year? Why only children have the red packet?
As the legend goes, a demon known as “Sui 祟” terrorised children while they slept on New Year’s Eve and parents try to keep themselves awake all night to protect their children. One New Year, a parent gave his child eight coins and packed in red paper. The “red paper” was put under the pillow while parent & child were fall asleep again. At the midnight, the demon didn’t come and terrorised the child. The parent believe the “red paper” produced a power and drove the demon away. He told everyone and here is the story of red packet, 压岁（祟）钱.
Nowadays, red packet is not necessarily to be in “Red”. It can be colourful, but its design must with some good wishes & blessings.
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4. CNY Decorations (Chunlian & Paper-Cuts)
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Chunlian 春联/对联, New Year couplets are a pair of poetic lines written vertically in black ink on red paper and pasted on either side of the door. A third scroll is usually affixed above the horizontal plank. You can also pasted on wall, or a corner you need to decorate new year feel. Before pasted it, all the family members will begins with a thorough spring cleaning of the home. In addition to removing the dust and clutter, this cleaning symbolises sweeping away any bad luck or problems from the previous year. Once the house is a clean slate, it’s time to decorate and your new year couplets can pasted on wall.
Paper cutting also on red paper and is the art of cutting designs out of paper. After cutting, you can pasted them to any flat surface (e.g. a window), even a curve surface (e.g. a vase). The image of an auspicious plant or Chinese zodiac sign typically provides the theme of the New Year’s paper cutting. Each plant represents a different wish. For example, the peach symbolises longevity; the pomegranate symbolises fertility; the peony symbolises honour and wealth.
(Article from: Cindy, How to decorate for Chinese New Year. The Top 7 Decorations)
https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/ festivals/new-year-decoration.htm)
5. Mandarin Carrier Bag
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Mandarin orange is the staple fruit associated with the Chinese New Year celebration. Because of its Chinese name in cantonese sounds “柑” similar to the word gold “金“ symbolise “wealth”, which makes it a very auspicious fruit. Giving mandarin oranges to loved ones during the celebration is a symbolic way of wishing someone happiness and prosperity, as you are literally giving them “wealth” “送柑（金) “. Exchanging mandarin oranges when visiting one’s house has always been a form of respect and tradition. The appearance of Mandarin Carrier Bag is needed when giving these oranges.
How many mandarin oranges should giving? Many Singaporeans like the amount always be an even number. When visiting a Chinese home during the festival, it is customary to arrive with two mandarin oranges and wish them a happy and prosperous new year.
Beside mandarin orange, some gift such as nuts variety box, chocolate, dried seafood, canned seafood also can add in your mandarin carrier bag. (Article from: Serene Chow, The cultural significance of mandarin oranges)
https://www.monash.edu.my/news-and-events/trending/the-cultural-significance-of-mandarin-oranges)
Where to buy: Click Here
6. “Huat” Red T-Shirt
Image Credit: Naiise
During Chinese New year celebration, most of the things will be in red. Red is a popular colour in Chinese culture, symbolising luck, joy, & happiness, as it is believed to ward off evil. It also represents celebration, vitality, and fertility. Get rich, in hokkien sound is “Huat” 发. Singapore is home for many dialect groups, but The Hokkiens, numbering 1 remained the biggest group by dialect origin among the Singapore Chinese population. If you grew up in Singapore, you’ve definitely heard Hokkien being spoken around you. Thus, “Huat” 发 will definitely always heard in Chinese New year celebration.
When mixing Rainbow Yu Sheng (raw fish salad), you have to shout “Huat Ah (发）! Ong Ah（旺）! Heng Ah! （兴）” and saying some auspicious wishes. When meeting relatives & friends, you need to say “ Keong Hee Huat Chai” 恭喜发财. Since it so needed, just buy this “Huat” Red T-Shirt.
Where to buy: Click Here
7. Lucky Bamboo
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Lucky bamboo is a famous household plant when Chinese New Year is coming. Beside increase the Feng shui, people love it because of it’s plant structure- culm ”节“, it can related it to “节节高升“ Step Raising.
According to Chinese traditions, the significance of lucky bamboo is tied to how many stalks you have. There are different meanings associated with various lucky bamboo arrangements. You can choose 2-12 stalks, just exclude 4 stalks.
According to the rules of Feng Shui, here is some tips for you:
- Placed in the east or southeast corners of a kitchen.
- A lucky bamboo plant can also bring happiness into the household.
- In an office, a lucky bamboo plant with 6 stalks promotes wealth.
- Find the east or southeast corner of your working desk and place the plant there.
- It brings happiness into the house when placed in the east or southest corners of a kitchen.
- Placing the plant on a shelf over the toilet is a good step to remove negative energies.
- Lucky bamboo plant should never be placed in the bedroom.
- Lucky bamboo plant can also be offered as a gift representing luck.
(Article from: Jon VanZile, The Meaning of Lucky Bamboo
https://www.thespruce.com/meaning-of-lucky-bamboo-1902901)
(Article from: Bamboo Tree Guy, Where should we keep lucky bamboo at home
https://www.myluckybambooplant.com/where-should-we-keep-lucky-bamboo-at-home/)
Just remember, Lucky bamboo leaves are mildly toxic, so they should not be kept in a place where pets or children are likely to snack on them.
8. Pineapples Cushion
Image Credit: hipvan
After spring cleaning, you need to start decorate your house. There are too many red in house. Why not find something useful & meaningful, not in red for your warm cozy home? You can consider this pineapple cushion. Non-red, but meaningful. Change it with your old cushion cover, then it will bring lots of happiness and prosperity to your house. Pineapple, yellow in colour when it’s ripe, and its Chinese Name 黄梨 similar to the word get rich “旺“ symbolise “wealth”. In Hokkien, “旺梨” “Ong-lai 旺来,” which means “prosperity comes”.
Where to buy: Click Here
