CHINESE NEW YEAR 2018 16th February year of the Yang Earth Dog (Wu Xu)

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CHINESE NEW YEAR 2018 16th February 2018 – Year of the Yang Earth Dog (Wu Xu)

 

Are you prepared for 2018 year of the yang earth dog

© Written by Michael Hanna and revised by Daniel Hanna November 2017

Kung Hai Fat Chou

Are you prepared for 2019?

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Chinese New Year 2018 – Year of the Yang Earth Dog (Wu Xu)

 

Chinese New Year 2018Chinese New Year 2018, according to the Lunar calendar, starts on the 16th February 2018. The New Year is a highly anticipated and prepared for event celebrated around the world by people of all ethnicities and walks of life who revel in the celebrations.

This occasion is for honouring family, friends, and ancestors. It’s a time to show gratitude for all blessings. It’s also a perfect opportunity to reflect on mistakes and failures during the previous year and then let them go acknowledging that the New Year heralds a chance to start afresh and build the life you deserve.

Thorough and in-depth cleaning takes place with the attitude of sweeping away any mishaps, ill-fortune or regrets. The cleansing prepares the home leaving it fresh and vital and ready to welcome the New Year and all the good luck it will bring.

The Chinese New Year is the date for big celebrations. Dinner with family precedes the elaborate Dragon processions, fireworks and the handing out of Ang Pows (lucky red envelopes). However, the date, which will be 16th February 2018, is not the date to place your 2018 cures and enhancers.

You will find full details on the 2018 Xuan Kong annual flying stars by clicking THIS LINK. 2018 is a significant year as we have the inauspicious #5 star entering the north which can cause problems to homes and offices all around the world if not treated accordingly. This entering star means specialist cures are needed more than ever. The last time we had a Yang Earth Dog (Wu Xu) year was in 1958 making it a cycle of 60 years. A Traditional ‘ten thousand year calendar’ will display this cycle.

The Lunar Chinese New Year Day (16th February 2018) is very different from the Solar (Hsia) New Year Day which falls on February 4th 2018 which I will explain below.

Lunar and solar Chinese New Year

What happens on Chinese New Year?

 

Chinese New Year 2018As far back as I can remember, Chinese New Year has always been a time of delicious food, meeting up with family and friends, and receiving Ang Pow, (lucky red envelopes) from the older generation. I especially loved the Dragon dance and throwing lettuce into the lion’s mouth when we used to go to our local Chinese restaurant where they would put on an amazing display. The sound of Chinese Firecrackers would surround and excite us, and there would always be an abundance of the colour red. The Chinese New Year has always been a time of enjoyment and excitement for me and is still one of my favourite events of the year. It gives me a chance to relax and celebrate everything that I have in my life.

Although the solar (Hsia) calendar commences the New Year at the beginning of Spring, which usually falls between the 3rd and 4th of February, the lunar (Yueh) calendar marks the New Year on the second new moon after the winter solstice.  Celebrations and festivities for the Chinese New Year are held on this date. In 2018, the Lunar Chinese New Year, which also known as ‘Spring Festival,’ falls on the 16th February 2018.

When is Chinese New Year 2018?

 

Chinese New Year 2018Celebrations for the Chinese New Year in 2018 will be 16th February, and all ethnic Chinese will take part in the traditions and festivities. Over the past few years, the event has become increasingly popular with people from all over the world and mixed beliefs enjoying the celebrations which take part in every single country in the world.

The Solar New Year (4th February 2018) isn’t a time to celebrate but the allotted time for placing the Annual Feng Shui Cures and Enhancers.

We have had some clients saying that they have come across websites stating that 2018 is the 4715th Chinese New Year although this is not true and we have added the reason behind it, here is an answer and interesting fact for you:

The Yellow King’s appointment was held in the spring of 2697 B.C. But they used the winter solstice day as the first day of the year. So the first winter solstice took place on around December 23rd, 2698 B.C. Today’s January 1st means nothing to the Yellow King. If we count that extra eight days in 2698 B.C. for a year, then year 2018 is the 4716th Chinese year.

Interesting Facts for Chinese New Year 2018

 

The Chinese character signs for the Dog: Wu Xu ()

Dog Years: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030

Best Careers for the Dog: Police officer, Scientist, Counselor, Interior Designer,

Professor, Politician, Priest, Nurse, Clerk, and Judge.

Personality of the Dog: Communicative, serious, responsible in work, sincere, reliable, considerate, brave and understanding

Famous Dogs: Mother Teresa, Elvis Presley, Winston Churchill, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Donald Trump, Justin Bieber, Steven Spielberg and Bill Clinton

Dog Protection Animal: Rabbit

Conflict Animal: Dragon

Auspicious Months for the Dog: June, October and December

Auspicious Flowers for the Dog: Rose and Cymbidium Orchid

Auspicious Numbers for the Dog: 3, 4, 9 (or any number containing them- 39, 94, 43 ect)

Auspicious Directions for the Dog: East, South and Northeast

How should I prepare for Chinese New Year 2018?

 

Pay debts before Chinese New YearPlanning and preparation are an integral part of the lead up to Chinese New Year. How we start the year will be a reflection on how the rest of the year will unfold. Starting the New Year with any debts could set you up for a year of financial distress so pay your debts or request for repayment of any monies owed. Clear up any outstanding disagreements with others, and you’ll have more chance to avoid further disputes during the year.

This rule also applies to anything you have lent out to family and friends. They must be collected before the beginning of the Chinese New Year or else you may find yourself lending for the rest of the year. This precedent applies with most things; generally, the best attitude to take is to start the New Year as you wish to go on which is why drinking alcohol is not encouraged during the Chinese New Year (see below for more information). In other words, put your affairs in order so you will enter the Dog year in a calm, stress-free and joyful manner that will encourage a lucky and healthy year to flow your way.

Clean house for Chinese New Year 2018During the build-up in the upcoming weeks to Chinese New Year, it is vital to go through the whole house and clean thoroughly. Everything must be dusted, junk must be cleared out as well as removing any broken or damaged items.

For as long as I can remember I have had an endless list of tasks that need doing before the New Year to make sure that the house is scrupulously clean. The cleaning sweeps away stagnant energy that is lying around and creates a fresh, clean environment for health providing, auspicious energy to enter our home.

When I was a child, this endless cleaning always seemed such a boring and painful duty. But now that I have my own home I’ve grown to love the ritual; well not exactly love, but I do get a great sense of satisfaction when everything is finished. I love how uplifted and lighter I feel, and how my energy levels increase. The cleaning and eliminating junk and clutter on a regular basis has improved all areas of my life and is a great way to begin a new year. To make this process easier I designed a Chinese New Year Checklist for everything that needs doing in my home and office before Solar Chinese New Year (4th February 2018). This checklist is available for download by CLICKING HERE.

The whole house, inside out, must be cleaned before New Year’s Day and it would generally take me two or three days to go through everything. Junk is cleaned out of all drawers; furniture is moved to enable cleaning behind, around and underneath.  Skirting boards (baseboards) are dusted and wiped, and we don’t forget to look up to ceilings and clear away any cobwebs and dirt. Corners especially need addressing as this is where stagnant energy can get stuck.

Broken items, including chipped plates and cups, are thrown away. Nothing is missed. It all sounds daunting but so well worth it. Once you start the process, you can feel the shift inside you and also in the home. A sense of peace seems to fall over me and by the time I’ve finished the satisfaction is immense. Logically I know I have increased the positive Qi (energy) but I, and everyone else can feel and sense the change also. Everything feels brighter, fresher, more vital. There’s a look and sense of clarity in every room and object that you can’t help but stop and admire your handiwork.

2018 Cures and Enhancers for the year of the Yang Earth Dog

I’ve finished cleaning my home, now what?

 

Tidy house for Chinese New YearAfter I am finished cleaning everything, I make sure that I pack all the equipment away. Everything, including brooms, dustpans, and brushes, hoovers (vacuum cleaners), dusters and all cleaning cloths. Make sure they are placed out of sight to allow the new, fresh, vibrant energy to flow through unencumbered. Avoid shuffling everything into the corner of the kitchen or living (lounge) room. Possible storage could be an unused room.

Red means ‘good fortune,’ fame and riches to the Chinese. You should, however, be very cautious when using the colour red inside your home with regards to the Annual Flying Stars for 2018. I have seen a great deal of homes and businesses utilising very bright reds thinking it will give them good luck, whereas, in traditional Feng Shui, if used in a wrong location, it can cause many unwanted problems.

If used correctly, red can give excellent results, so a good tip is to keep the colours you choose to use as natural as possible unless you are confident of the elements and their associated colours and usage in Feng Shui. Please take a look at our 2018 Flying Star Analysis to find out where red can be used in 2018.

Protective talismans

 

Chinese New Year TalismanThe build-up to Chinese New Year is also an important time to replace your protective talismans which should be used to ward off evil throughout the home or work place during the year (click here to find out why you place these talisman charms and to also download a free printable copy). People from all over the world will do this by decorating their home with auspicious couplets and talismans with the additional aim to summon good fortune. These talismans will be printed on thick paper in red or with a red background. In Chinese culture, the colour red is seen as a life-giving colour, associated with summer, the south and the vermilion bird, which is similar to a phoenix (oddly enough symbolic of rebirth in the west too) and represents the fire element.

Flowers and plants

 

Using Flowers in Feng ShuiPreparing for the Chinese New Year includes decorating a home or office with live, fresh, blooming plants as fresh plants are viewed as a symbol of rebirth and new growth both in the home and in business. Flowers such as Peony, Plum Blossom, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum all symbolise wealth and high position in ones’ career.  It is said that having no flowers in your home will result in a lack of fruit during the year. It is believed that luck will fill the entire household if a plant blooms on New Year’s Day. If this happens to you, expect the year ahead to be full of prosperity so don’t forget to include lots of plants around your home. Plum Blossoms and Bamboo are also displayed in the home and business to symbolise perseverance, reliability, and longevity.

Fruit

 

Another crucial part of the Chinese tradition, and highly encouraged for everyone to do, is place a bowl of fruit. In particular, oranges and tangerines are two very symbolic fruits associated with the celebration of the Chinese New Year. Not only does the uplifting citrus smell fill the room heightening levels of joy and happiness but both these fruits are symbols for abundant happiness. The colour of these zesty fruits also represents gold and combining with a ‘hung bao’ and ang pow (red lucky packet containing money), they are offered to friends and family as gifts symbolising gold ingots. Every year, my parents come over to my home and bring two fresh nets of oranges for me and vice versa.

Kitchen god

 

2018 Kitchen GodAbout a week before Lunar New Year, traditional families will be very busy preparing the religious ceremony which is performed with tributes and offerings in honour of Heaven (Tien Shen) and Earth (Ti Tu), and of the various deities of the household together with family ancestors. One of the most well know deities associated with Chinese New Year is the Kitchen God (also known as stove god).  The Kitchen God resides over the stove and is said to keep an eye on the interactions of the household, making an annual report on what the family has done in the past year to the Jade Emperor in Heaven around about a week before Chinese New Year Day. Rites and offerings are made to the Kitchen God (Zhou Khun) on this day with hopes that he will speak well of the deeds of the family.

The reunion dinner

 

Chinese New Year reunion dinnerTraditionally, one of the leading events during the Chinese New Year is the ‘Reunion Dinner’ which is a very extravagant banquet laid out to mark the onset of the New Year. Every family member, old and young, will gather for the reunion dinner to symbolise family harmony and enjoy spending time together. Family members will all aim to return to the family home where the elders live; even if they have moved away from the district or live abroad. An effort will be made for everyone to come back and be together with all of their family members. The tradition is for the wives or partners to spend their reunion dinner in the husband’s family home alongside his family.

The reunion dinner is always a very grand family banquet that fills the table with an array of unique, delicious, dishes and delicacies. These dishes are all artistically named with auspicious symbolic meanings. The dinner will usually begin at the altar with a prayer of tribute and offerings to their ancestors and deities. It’s a very colourful and lively affair with every light in the house left on to ward off evil spirits.

Presented and beautifully laid out on the table, some of the dishes are believed to have superstitious attributes. Foods like Ginkgo nuts, for example, represent gold ingots and are said to be full of auspicious luck for fertility. Black moss seaweed is a beautiful dish and is symbolic of prosperity. A whole chicken, a desirable addition to the feast, is also symbolic of prosperity. Dried bean curd is placed on the banquet table to symbolise happiness and luck. Lotus seed is seen as another fertility symbol and signifies having many offspring. Nian Gao is a traditional sweet, steamed glutinous rice pudding; when you eat this dish, you will aid growth and abundance.  When you translate ‘bamboo shoots’ into Chinese, the words sound similar to the Chinese for ‘hoping that all turns out for the best.’ A whole fish with its head and tail intact will represent togetherness throughout the year.

The Reunion Dinner is a very exhausting but enjoyable event. Traditionally the women gather in the kitchen preparing the dinner while the men either watch TV or (guess what) play game after game of Mah-jong. Mah-jong is a significant part of Chinese culture and is played by men and women alike. They will often play in halls solely dedicated to the game. Mah-jong is considered gambling with huge sums of money being won and lost by the players. An excellent memory is required to play the game to memorise which tiles have been laid down and which remain. Once a certain point in a hand has been passed, you need to pay special attention. If you’re the one to put down the tile that enables another player to win that hand you not only have to pay your losses on the hand but those of the other two losing players as well.   The result could mean a serious amount of money being lost throughout the day.    Not a game to play if you have a poor memory.

Children are washed and dressed in their new pyjamas (every year, during Chinese New Year, I replace my pyjamas). With promises that  ‘Tsai Shen Yeh‘ (Chai Shen Yeh), the Wealth God, will arrive once they’re asleep, the children will drift off excited and confident that they will awake to an Ang Pow (a red envelope with money) under their pillow. This custom is very similar to the tooth fairy in western culture.

Giving and receiving red envelopesIt’s also very common for the children to receive an Ang Pow from their grandparents and older family members on Chinese New Year. How much is gifted is dictated by the closeness of the family relationship and the age of the child. It’s good practice to give and receive with both hands. It’s also common for older children to receive more money than younger children. Parents will gift more than an aunt or uncle. Someone who has a large family and who has taken a defeat on the mah-jong tables is in for trouble!

At midnight, during the turn of the old and New Year, it’s tradition throughout China and the world, to hear the bangs of Chinese firecrackers and fireworks which are used to ward away the evil spirits (Nian monster). The fireworks also herald the old energy (Qi) passing and the welcoming of the new Qi. Sadly, fireworks are banned in the U.K. without permission from the council. However, fireworks are accepted and celebrated during the western New Year. China is also considering placing a ban on fireworks to control pollution during the New Year period.

Although some countries, like the U.K., have banned any firework displays they still enjoy the traditional dragon dance ceremony. At these ceremonies, you’ll find people dressed in giant dragon costumes dancing around to deafening music. You’ll see performers holding poles to raise and lower the dragon with one of these poles supporting a ‘Pearl of Wisdom.’  The pearl will serve as a temptation for the dragon to search for wisdom and knowledge as he follows it to the sound of the thundering drums. The drums seem to help fill the void of the firecrackers, the energy is pumping and everyone, old and young, are thrilled by the event.

The Dragon Dance

 

The dragon dance dates back as far as the Han Dynasty (202BC – 22AD). The dance was used in a ceremony to worship the ancestors and to pray for rain. The dragon dance later became a source of entertainment, and in the Tang and Song Dynasty, the dance became a regular ceremonial activity to celebrate Chinese New Year.

The dragon costume is traditionally stored in a Dragon King Temple and taken from the temple only on the performance day. The success of the dance rests on the performers and the longer the dragon, the more skill the performers will need.    Following the long, undulating dragon will be the drummers carrying banners and flags. The body is attached to the head and is known as the ‘eye pointing’ ceremony.

One of the team performers will walk in front of the dragon carrying a long pole with a big ball attached at the top, decorated with frills and ribbons. The dragon’s head hypnotically follows the movement of the ball with the body of the dragon, guided by the other performers, following smoothly in a flowing, rippling motion. When the dance is over the tradition is to burn the head and tail and return the body to the Dragon King Temple. It’s believed that by burning the head and tail of the dragon it will be taken to ‘Dragon Heaven’ bringing good weather for crops in the year ahead.  Another belief is that the burning dragon will repel bad luck and disasters for the year ahead.

The Lion dance

 

Chinese New Year Lion danceThe lion dance, which also goes by the name of the ‘lion lantern’ is a traditional dance performed on Chinese New Year. Two men or teenagers will wear a lion costume, one being the head and the other the body of the lion. Together, they dance to a beating drum and gong mimicking a real lion’s movements. A mirror will rest on the head of the lion which is believed to scare away evil spirits when they see their reflection.

The lion will make his way down the street and will meet the ‘laughing Buddha’ dressed in a monk’s robe and a mask. The ‘Buddha’ is ready to tease and make the lion jump erratically by waving around a fan made of banana leaves. The lion proceeds to search around the street looking for lettuce which he’ll find hanging over doors to homes and offices. The lettuce will have an Ang Pow attached, with money to thank the lion for their wishes of luck and prosperity for the year. It’s thought to be very lucky for the lion to take the lettuce from your door.

Once the lion removes the Ang Pow from the lettuce, he will scatter the lettuce leaves all over the street which symbolises a new start for the year ahead complete with good luck.

Day One of Chinese New Year

 

Chinese New Year’s Day itself starts with the exchange of good wishes amongst family dressed in their smart, new clothes. Married couples present the young ones, children and unmarried adults with a Hung-Bao (red envelope with a gift of money).  Instead of giving a wrapped-up present such as clothing or toys, as we do at Christmas in the UK, USA, and other Christian countries, Chinese culture will gift a red envelope containing money. The amount of money has to be in numbers conforming to the belief that even numbers are auspicious except for a single Chinese I-Ching coin on its own. For example, it could be two dollars, ten or twenty dollars.  It’s staggering how much money a person, young or old can receive in a day. For more information on red envelopes and their use in Chinese culture the link below details http://www.fengshuiweb.co.uk/advice/angpow.htm

You will also find an article on Chinese talismans below this text.  This article is  brilliant, informative and you should try to read it; follow this link after you have finished this article. http://www.fengshuiweb.co.uk/advice/talismans.htm

Later on in the day, everyone will go out to visit their relative’s homes. The visiting rota has an unspoken hierarchy arrangement. The oldest family member rests at home and waits for the younger relatives to visit them for the exchange of good wishes. These visits are thrilling for the children who understand the ritual. Every greeting of “Kung Xee Fa Chai” (Congratulations and May you be Prosperous) will result in an Ang Pow (red envelope containing money).

Day Two of Chinese New Year

 

Chinese New Year noodlesThe second day of Chinese New Year is known as ‘Kai Nien’ (Year Beginning) and the day will begin with a very early morning breakfast. Unique dishes, all with symbolic names, are served up. The main meal of this day of celebration is a bowl of long noodles which will end with everyone at the table tossing the noodles as high as possible with their chopsticks. The tossing of noodles is a symbolic activity done to promote longevity. Those who are unable to join in will watch the rest of the family stand, raise up their arms to fullest stretch and, hold the noodles aloft while they toss them; a fun and messy activity that often results with a mass of noodles stuck on the ceiling.

Unlike western culture, alcohol doesn’t feature a great deal, if at all, during Chinese New Year celebrations. Instead, copious amounts of green tea are consumed with maybe a small drink of Chinese wine with their meal. The festivities are viewed as a family event and not an appropriate time to get drunk.

Two days of eating a great deal, along with exciting fun and games with family, can be quite tiring; the Chinese don’t hold back on these occasions and always celebrate in style. The Chinese have a special relationship with food throughout the year but at no time more so than at New Year. Many dishes have particular significance, especially at this time. Even everyday dishes like fish and turnips have special meanings and none more so than fishballs and meatballs, both of which suggest a reunion. These meanings are essential to give understanding and depth to the occasion.

Day Three of Chinese New Year

 

After two days of celebrations and festivities, even the most spirited Chinese will start to feel the effects and become aware that it’s time for a respite to restore and revitalise. So, this brings us to the third day. Traditionally, this is not a day for being adventurous or energetic with the young ones maybe venturing out to visit friends, but it’s predominantly a quiet day for everyone. The custom is that no offices or businesses will be open on this day.

Day Four of Chinese New Year

 

On the fourth day, normality starts to return. Companies, shops, and stores will reopen for business. Many businesses will choose a specific day for opening, and they’ll utilise the services of a Feng Shui Practioner for a date selection. Many also will organise a spectacular display of lion dance and firecrackers. Once again, it’s a booming, boisterous and exciting event for both employer, employees and passers-by. The lion dance on this occasion is said to bring prosperity to the company.

Chinese New Year continued

 

Celebrations continue for another eleven days right through to the full moon of the first lunar month when another celebration follows. This event is called ‘Spring Lantern Festival’ (Yuan Xiao Jie) and held on the fifteenth day. This impressive ceremony takes place under a full moon.

On this day, every generation no matter how young or old, will carry a beautiful, colourful lantern and all will gather in a neighbouring public place such as a town center. They gather together to admire and appreciate the first full moon of the year (very similar to the Mid-Autumn Festival). In China, there are still villages that hold large Tang Yuan (rice dumplings) cooking and eating sessions (an event still, to date, on my bucket list). The dumplings are round and symbolise family unity and completeness. The mid-month Spring Lantern Festival traditionally brings the seasonal passage of the New Year to conclusion.

What can I do before the New Year to achieve good luck?

 

  • Make sure that your house, flat, workplace, shop or any other building is completely clean from top to bottom, to encourage good luck in the coming year. On average, just before New Year, we take 2-3 days cleaning every single area of our home which is quite time consuming but feels fabulous after.
  • You should not wash or cut your hair on the first few days of the New Year; this is because “Hair” is a homophone for the word “fa” meaning “prosperity” in Chinese.  Therefore “cut the hair” or “wash the hair” is perceived as “cut your prosperity” or “wash your prosperity away”. This is something we have done for as long as I can remember.
  • Make sure that you have all of your Cures and Enhancers cleansed and prepared for the 4th February and be sure to check our world time converter to find out when to place your Cures and Enhancers for 2018, year of the Yang Earth Dog (Wu Xu)
  • You should open all the windows and doors in every single part of the home as this is said to bring in clean, new good luck for the year.
  • Do not talk about death or anything negative on the first few days of the year and, in modern days, horror films or any film with negative connotations, would never be watched.
  • Do not purchase books in the first few days in Chinese New Year.  “Book” is a homophone for the word “shu” meaning “loss” in Chinese.
  • Do not cry on the first few days of the New Year or raise your voice to your children or any other member of your family. It is believed this will set the year ahead.
  • You should switch on all of the lights in the home inside and out as this is said to attract good luck from outside and if the windows and doors are wide open it is easy for the luck to enter. The bright lights and open windows are also used to scare away evil spirits.
  • Many people, especially Chinese, will buy a new pair of slippers at New Year. It is believed that this purchase will prevent people gossiping about you. In China, face and reputation is very important.
  • This is quite normal all around the earth but one thing the Chinese spend a lot of time doing before New Year is bathing and they cover themselves with Pomelo leaves to enhance their health for the year. Pomelo is the largest of citrus trees and they grow as large as a bowling ball and are said to be very healthy to drink and eat.
  • The Chinese believe that whatever happens to them on New Year’s day sets how the year ahead will be for them; this is why they avoid arguments, use knives or drive too far. They love to gamble on New Year’s day as they hope to create good luck and wealth. You can read more on this below.

Some rules and regulations the Chinese stick to on the Chinese New Year Day

 

  • Everybody is in a celebratory mood over Chinese New Year’s, so, people should not argue or disagree with each other.
  • Parents should not punish or discipline the children. Otherwise, they will have more arguments during the New Year.
  • Women should refrain from using a knife or scissors in the kitchen. The knife signifies anger and danger in the woman’s life and the scissors predict the woman cutting people out of her life. Women do not prepare or cook meals on this day but eat leftovers and pre-prepared food from the day before instead.
  • It is considered bad luck if you smash a plate, bowl, cup or any other similar kitchen crockery; this brings bad luck regarding finances throughout the year. All smashed and cracked crockery should be placed in a round container until the next rubbish collection day.
  • It is said that if you were to sweep up rubbish or throw away rubbish on Chinese New Year’s Day, you will be sweeping or throwing away the wealth and luck that resides in your home so please don’t do any cleaning.
  • Do not take a lunchtime nap on this day as this will encourage laziness throughout the whole year ahead.
  • You should not wash yourself on this day which means don’t take a bath, shower or wash your hair on Chinese New Year’s Day as this will wash away all good luck for you personally.
  • Refrain from wearing black or white colours when visiting friends on this day as these colours are associated with funerals and death.
  • Do not eat rice or oat porridge for breakfast on this day as rice or oat porridge is associated with the poor eating these meals in the past; this symbolises a loss of wealth. A good breakfast would be fruit.
  • If somebody that you know or know of has recently passed away, it is not advisable to visit a family member’s house that is connected to the recently deceased as this could bring bad luck in 2017.
  • Do not eat any meat during breakfast on this day. Many vegetarian Gods arrive at the Chinese New Year’s Day festival and upsetting them could cause problems.
  • When you wake somebody up on this morning, do not use their name as it is said that this person will be dependent on you all year long to motivate them.
  • Refrain from taking medicine if possible on this day that is not essential for your health as this could symbolise weakness and could bring illness to you throughout some point of the year. Obviously, necessary medication must still be taken as usual.
  • Do not wash any clothes on this day as Chinese New Year Day is the birthday of the god of Water.
  • Do not collect any debts on this day as you may find that you will be chasing money for the rest of 2018.
  • Do not let anybody take anything out of your pockets, purse, handbag or wallet as this symbolises money loss throughout the year and please be careful when out as pick-pockets can also cause problems with this.
  • Do not cut your hair or nails on this day as it is believed that you will be bringing pain to your relations.
  • Do not buy any shoes as it’s considered very unlucky; ‘shoe’ translated in Mandarin means evil and when translated in Cantonese means ‘rough’ although slippers are fine.
  • Keep everything positive and do not talk about anything negative on this day as you will be setting an example for how the rest of your year is to be lived.
  • When offering something, do not do so in fours; when ‘four’ is translated in Chinese, it sounds like death. An example would be not to place 4 or 24 – 34 04 worse still 44 pounds/dollars in a red envelope

The understanding is that whatever you do on Chinese New Year, is what you will be doing for the rest of the year so enjoy time with family and eat well.

You can download a checklist of everything that needs to be done, just click here Checklist for Chinese New Year 2018

I hope you have enjoyed reading this and would like to wish you all a very happy, successful and lucky new year in 2018. There are many links below related to the Chinese New Year and traditions.

Are you prepared for 2019?

Chinese astrology and Feng Shui guide for 2019Feng Shui SoftwareFeng Shui cures and enhancers for 2019
Chinese Animal Predictions for 20192019 Flying star analysis

Visit the pages below for further details on 2019 Chinese New Year etc.

Chinese New Year 2019 ** Checklist for Chinese New Year 2019 ** How to make your own Ang Pow **Chinese Talismans for 2019 ** Chinese animal predictions for 2019 ** Flying star Xuan Kong 2019 ** Avoid the fury of the Grand Duke, three killing 2019 ** Chinese New Year world time converter 2019 ** 2019 Cures and enhancers kits ** How to take a compass reading ** How to determine your facing direction ** Feng Shui software ** Feng Shui resource ** 2019 Tong Shu Almanac Software ** Feng Shui Blog ** Chinese culture **

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