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Chinese New Year Decorations |
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Written by Bob Younce
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Friday, 25 January 2008 |
One of the most exciting parts about the Chinese New Year celebration is the decorations. From paper lanterns to the various
flowers, Chinese New Year Decorations can liven up a home, and create an authentic Asian feel for your Chinese new year celebration.
For a traditional Chinese New Year celebration, the preparation and decorations begin as much as a month ahead of time. The whole process starts with a thorough cleaning of the house. This process is supposed to get rid of any bad luck that may be hiding in the nooks and crannies of your home. It's also a good excuse to spend some time doing some deep cleaning, which will make your spring cleaning that much easier come springtime.
Colorful reds and golds are the main colors used in Chinese New Year decorations. Red is used as it is thought to ward off evil spirits. One custom is to decorate doors and windows with red paint, as this will keep those the entrances to the home from being invaded by evil spirits on Chinese New Year. Gold is used to symbolize wealth and prosperity for the coming New Year.
Paper lanterns are among the most common Chinese New Year decorations. You can purchase these, or you can also make your own with a little work. Flowers and fruits are common Chinese New Year decorations as well. Peaches and oranges are some common Chinese New Year fruits; White Narcissus and Chrysanthemum are two common types of flowers used for Chinese New Year decorations.
Another fun Chinese New Year decoration that you can use is the "spring couplet." These are simply squares or curls of paper that are spread around the house. On these spring couples are written blessings and well wishes, such as "good fortune" and "longevity. |
