Lunar New Year 2023, Year of the Rabbit

2023 is Year of the Rabbit

2023 is the Year of the Water Rabbit according to the Chinese Zodiac. The year starts on January 22, 2023. Those born under the Year of the Rabbit are thought to be vigilant, witty and ingenious. 

The Lunar New Year is one of the most glamorous and vibrant New Years around the world. It is sort of a 15-day traditional custom, which has three phases all of which are filled with fun. Lunar New Year activities can be broken out into 3 periods: preceding days, festival days, post New Year Spring Festival.

1. Preceding Days

• A 15-day New Year needs to get off to a good start. One of the first things in traditional customs for New Year is the cleaning performed before the New Year. Every corner of the house is cleaned as dust is bad luck for them.
• ‘Fu’, a character that depicts happiness and good fortune is pasted on gates and some furniture to help bring good luck to the family. It is also used to express good wishes and yearning for a better future.

2. Festival Time

• The New Year festival is a blast. People celebrate it by having family reunions, staying up all night, eating dumplings, setting off firecrackers, and enjoying to the fullest.
• Red Envelopes or also known as lucky money is given to children as a gift by their parents and other adults. The lucky money is gifted along with wishes that they study and work hard to earn the rewards to come. 

3. Post Festival time

• The post New Year time is celebrated by visiting friends, relatives, and presenting gifts to each other.

Superstitions which are too appealing not to know about

Chinese people have some of the most unique superstitions during New Year, as they believe that they will help bring good luck, better health and wealth.

• Chinese believe that sweeping the house sweeps off the good luck so sweeping is strictly forbidden during this time.
• If a plant blossoms on New Year’s Day then it is believed that the family will have a healthy year.
• Chinese also believe that the more sweets that are eaten, the sweeter the year will be ahead.
• Being in red zone (i.e. having debt) is not taken lightly. The Chinese ensure that they get out of the red zone as they believe if the year starts in the red, it will finish the same.

Wishing You Good Fortune. Happy Lunar New Year!

Pauline Lee | pauline@indmortgage.com | (508) 525-5415

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