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Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and is one of the most significant traditional Chinese holidays. In Hong Kong, a city with deep Chinese roots, Lunar New Year is a time for family reunions, feasting, and honoring ancestral traditions.
The festival's origins are thousands of years old and involve several myths and customs. One popular story tells of the mythical beast Nian, which was said to eat crops, livestock, and even villagers. To protect themselves, people put food outside their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after eating the food left outside, Nian wouldn't attack any more people. Red decorations were also used to scare off the creature because Nian feared this color.
On Lunar New Year's Day in Hong Kong:
Family Gatherings: Families come together for a celebratory dinner known as "Reunion Dinner" on Lunar New Year's Eve. This meal is an important tradition for starting the year with family unity.
Red Packets: Elders give red packets ('lai see') containing money to children and unmarried adults as a symbol of transferring fortune from one generation to the next.
New Clothes: Wearing new clothes from head to toe symbolizes a new start and fresh hopes for the new year.
Lion Dances: Traditional lion dance performances take place throughout the city believed to bring good luck and fortune.
Flower Markets: In preparation for the festival, flower markets pop up all over Hong Kong selling plants like orchids and peonies believed to bring good luck.
Fireworks: A spectacular fireworks display over Victoria Harbour is a key feature of celebrations but may vary from year to year based on regulations or public health concerns.
Public Holiday: The first three days of Lunar New Year are public holidays in Hong Kong; many businesses close so that people can celebrate with their families.
Throughout these festivities, there is an emphasis on starting anew — settling debts, reconciling with people, cleaning houses to sweep away ill-fortune and make way for incoming good luck. It's a time rich with cultural significance that blends ancient customs with modern celebration.
