Chinese New Year 2019: Unusual Traditions That Make Every Family Stand Out
Fresh on the news front, AsiaOne shares five quirky ways their crew spice up the Chinese New Year fête.
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1⃣ The Red‑Packet King/Queen – “Give, Don’t Get”
Lynette (30):
“I’m the one who hand‑outs more red bags than I’m handed – and I’ve no sign of a wedding ring yet! Grandparents, parents, relatives, even my own siblings get the festive cash.”*
Min Lee (34):
“My friends’ kids now get red packets from me. If those snug little wrappers are really for cash, why expect a round‑table pour from my married pals when we’re all the same age? Let’s spread the fu to the future generations.”*
Takeaway* – The more you give, the fuller your pockets grow.
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2⃣ Bundling Leeks – A Fresh Take on Wealth
Kimberly (21):
“Every year, my crew ties a bouquet of leeks to our door. In Hokkien, ‘leek’ sounds like ‘sng’ – a slang nod to counting money. We plant ‘em seats‑able and keep the green wild‐roaming till New Year’s tail‑end.”*
Pro tip* – The longer the leek stays, the wilder the wealth!
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3⃣ Pillow‑Coat Red‑Packets – Sleep Your Way Rich
Bryan (27):
“My mum told us we should stash our red packets under pillows until the 15th. Think of it as a silent guardian that blesses your budget for the entire Chinese New Year.”*
Why it works* – Pillow‑plus lottery. No one can snatch till you’re wide‑awake enough to toss them out.
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4⃣ Stair‑cheer Cleaner – Let Go of Bad Energy
Junyi (21):
“The first morning, my mom drags me out of my bed to climb the stairs with her. From our eleventh floor, she says: ‘Walk away from the poison. This is cleansing!’”*
Result* – That’s a workout AND a fresh start. Impress your high‑rise neighbors.
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5⃣ The “Bai Nian” Show – All‑In‑Family Gift Exchange
Thiam Peng (32):
“We start with a proper ‘bai nian’ to parents, offering our best wishes. Then we gather the Mandarin and ang baos, ready for solemn greetings – the classics that change each year. The youngest sister pitches a fresh line, no repeats allowed. After kneeling for compliments, each receives an ang bao. All the tension? That’s the secret ingredient.”*
Bottom line* – The more an elder demands… the more your red packet shows your EEG‑packed effort.
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Wrap‑Up
These gibberish‑graceful customs show how each family adds its own twist to the customary trundle of dumplings, greetings, and luncheon playlists.
Want to try? Start small – maybe a night of leeks or a midnight red‑packet stash.
Happy Chinese New Year!* May your years be wealthier than a leek basket and lighter than Junyi’s stair‑cleanse.
AsiaOne, mm2Entertainment*
