New Year Traditions

Instead of ringing in this New Year with too much champagne and never-kept resolutions to lose a few pounds, why not roast some watermelon seeds, grab some fresh flowers, and celebrate the Chinese New Year? The Year of the Ram officially begins with the new moon on Feb. 1 and ends 15 days later, on the full moon. Southern Accents photographer Ka Yeung and his wife, Jan Keeton, share some of their favorite traditions to help you celebrate in style.

Chinese New Year Traditions

Food is an important part of the Chinese New Year celebration. The Chinese believe that there is a god who lives in the kitchen. "At the end of the year, you cook a lot of things so that the kitchen deity will go to heaven and give you a good report," Ka explains. In addition, there are certain foods that are considered good luck and typically eaten during the New Year's celebration. Chicken is a symbol of prosperity; watermelon seeds can be roasted and eaten by the handful to achieve joy, happiness, truth, and sincerity; peanuts (also eaten by the handful) will ensure a long life. The Tray of Togetherness is an octagon-shaped tray that is traditionally used to serve different kinds of candies and sweets that represent good fortune.

Decorations are also equally important to the celebration. They often will incorporate the colors red and yellow, which symbolize happiness. Couplets that contain Chinese characters for luck and fortune are often written on red paper and hung on the walls or the sides of doorways. Fresh flowers are also an important decoration, as the Chinese believe that they symbolize wealth. But don't make the same mistake Jan did the first year she celebrated the Chinese New Year and returned home with all white flowers. Her husband, horrified, explained that the Chinese only have white flowers at funerals. Blossoms, peonies, and bamboo are all good options since they are regarded as symbols of good things to come in the new year.