Chinese New Year is now arriving again.

Chinese New Year is celebrated with the aim of celebrating the birth of the new year according to the lunar calendar. The celebration is divided into 12 year cycles which is called as Chinese Zodiac and assembled by various animal names. This year is the cycle of the year of the dragon which carries the symbol of strength, honour  success and fortune. The Chinese community in particular will definitely celebrate this Chinese new year as this celebration only comes once every year. Of course Chinese people will celebrate with Unique practices and beliefs. Among the obligatory practices is to gather among family members for a large banquet as well as the practice of being married or elderly giving angpau to relatives, friends and neighbours. The practice of giving this angpau indicates prolonged happiness. In addition, lion dance, a traditional dance popular among the Chinese will be drawn from house to house with the aim of giving blessings and well-being to the families of devotees.

However, you always know that the red colour is significant with the Chinese New Year celebrations? They will decorate their homes with cultural ornaments such as lanterns and so on in red. What does this distinctive meaning of red with the practices and beliefs of the Chinese community with the Chinese New Year celebration? This article will reveal the significance of the red colour with the celebration of Chinese New Year in the Chinese community.

Red Colour Symbolic to Luck

The red colour in Chinese society is considered a lucky colour or ong. This is because, red colour in Mandarin language is called Hong, and it sounds like ong  which means luck. This red colour will be ensured to be the colour theme to celebrate Chinese New Year regardless of clothing to home decoration. The Chinese also adhere to the red colour symbolizing fire.  The red colour is also the national colour that in China their flag is also red. In addition, the red colour gives happiness, beauty, lifestyle, brings good luck and success.

The New Year celebration is a happiness among family members, hence, the use of red can symbolize them as happiness and gratitude in celebration. Red is a bright colour and this can give beauty to the people who wore it. Most Chinese people are yellow-skinned and when they wear red, it can show their beautiful. In fact, it is undeniable that this red colour brings many benefits to the Chinese especially when it comes to Chinese New Year. Have you ever gotten angpau from a Chinese acquaintance?

Have you ever wondered, why do they use a red envelope? Significant a red colour in Chinese New Year very familiar. According to the belief in the Chinese community, giving red angpau means profit. The money filled in the angpau should have even letters instead of odd. This is said so because, odd letters will bring a bad luck to humans. In addition, an odd amount also means a funeral.

Nian is afraid of red

Nian or a monster-sized beast is afraid of red. Everybody knows the Chinese community will hang red lanterns in front of the door and windows a few days before celebrating the New Year. It is because, many legends have heard that there is a monster that will terrorize the destruction of the house and to prevent this from happening, it is necessary to hang a red lantern in front of the house. The creature is believed to be afraid of red objects. 

In conclusion, the red colour is certainly familiar to Chinese society. As a Malaysian, we should respect each other. Chinese New Year celebrations will definitely be more festive if celebrated together regardless of adherents and race. The point of view of the definition of the Chinese New Year celebration itself which is to give and maintain prosperity. It's enough that we as Malaysians must respect all of it because everything in the world may be endured except continuing prosperity

Date of Input: 15/02/2024 | Updated: 15/02/2024 | norazlinazul