TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tuesday marks Lunar New Year's Eve, the final day of the lunar year, symbolizing the transition from the old year to the new.
The day is centered around practices such as cleaning to sweep away bad fortune, donning new clothes to symbolize a fresh start, enjoying a family reunion dinner, exchanging red envelopes, staying up late, and offering prayers. According to the ancient text Lushi Chunqiu (吕氏春秋), people would traditionally beat drums on New Year's Eve to ward off evil spirits and hold ceremonies to usher in a new beginning, per UDN Money.
On New Year's Eve, families present offerings to deities and ancestors. These offerings typically consist of three to five types of meat, rice cakes, and fruits, which are believed to honor the spirits and ensure their blessings for the coming year.
Following the offerings, incense is burned and firecrackers are set off. In many large temples, devotees line up to be the first to burn incense when the temple opens at midnight, as it is believed to bring them good fortune and blessings.
A key tradition on Lunar New Year's Eve is the “wei lu,” (圍爐) or family reunion dinner, where loved ones gather around the table to feast into the night. The later the family stays up, the more prosperous the upcoming year is thought to be.
After the meal, red envelopes, or “hong bao” (紅包), are given out, typically containing money. The color red is symbolic of vitality, joy, luck, and good fortune.
In ancient China, the belief in a demon called “Sui” (祟) that would harm children on New Year's Eve led parents to place copper coins under their children’s pillows. This eventually evolved into the giving of red envelopes with increasing amounts of money.
The tradition of staying up on New Year's Eve, known as “shou sui” (守歲), is rooted in the belief that it would drive away evil spirits and protect the household. Traditionally, people stayed awake until after midnight to ensure longevity for elders in the family and to prevent the evil year beast “Nian Shou” (年獸) from entering their homes.
Another custom is wearing red clothing during the Lunar New Year. By wearing red on New Year's Eve, people hope to invite a prosperous and auspicious year ahead.
*The aforementioned folklore is presented for informational purposes only and does not reflect the views of this publication.*
