How do people celebrate Chinese New Year?

Answer 1

On New Years Eve the presence of the ancestors are acknowledged with a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table. These dead relatives (in ancient times and now) are important and are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations of the glory and honor of the family. The spirits of the ancestors, together with the living, celebrate the New Year as one great community. The communal feast is called "surrounding the stove" or "weilu." It symbolizes family unity and honors the past and present generations.

The Chinese (before and now) also sacrifice things to the ancestors, which unites the living and the dead. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a whole family and as a time of reunion and Thanksgiving. In ancient times, the celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven, Earth, the gods of the household, and the family ancestors. The Chinese (in ancient times, as well as now) lay out Oranges and tangerines which symbolize good luck for the New Year.

The children also receive presents on New Years. They are presented with new clothing, eat luxurious meals, receive new toys, and enjoy a fire cracker display. Friends and relatives also exchange red envelopes containing lucky money, as a gift for the Chinese New Year.

Answer 2

They eat youtze, which is a type of grapefruit, and there are lots and lots...and lots......of red firecrakers going off constantly on the street for sometimes three days. They also give each other special gifts, called Hong Bao, which are red envelopes with money in them. It is traditional for parents and grandparents to give their children and grandchildren Hong Bao. They usually give about $100.