Chinese New Year Customs

The Process of "Bai Lin"

The Chinese put good luck and good wishes as their very first priority. Some customs and actions are strictly followed by the Chinese in order to keep the luck and wishes alive. One of these customs is called "Bai Lin", which is the visiting of friends and relatives during Chinese New Year. The steps involved in going to "Bai Lin" to your friends and relatives during Chinese New Year are described below.

The Steps of "Bai Lin" :


1. Make sure that you are nice and clean, and wear red colour clothes.

2. Buy a gift (candy, cookies, fruits etc.) for those relatives and
   friends that you are going to visit.

3. When you see your friends and relatives, the first thing you say to
   them is "Guey Hay Fat Choy!".

4. You take some fruit and candy from their candy box.

5. Older people give out "red envelopes" to younger people.

Explanation of the Steps :

Why is "red" very important in Chinese New Year.

For the Chinese, the colour red represents happiness and joy. If you wear red clothes, you bring more happiness and joy to the people around you.

Why you need to buy "gift" for your friends and relatives.

The Chinese buy gifts for friends and relatives to show their respect for them. If you visit them without any gifts, they will consider you as impolite.

Why you need to say "Guey Hay Fat Choy!" when you see your friends and relatives.

"Guey Hay Fat Choy!" means you wish that they have plenty of wealth in the coming year. The Chinese also follow this custom during the New Year.

Why you need to take fruit and candy from their candy box.

The Chinese prepare their candy box for their family. Each fruit and candy in the box represents the good luck and good wishes from their family. If you take fruit and candy from the candy box, it means that the luck and wishes have been delivered to you.

Why older people give out "red envelopes" to younger people.

Inside the "red envelopes" is some lucky money. The purpose of the older people giving out money to the younger people is to let the younger people buy something that they like on their own or let them save money for the coming year.

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