The Lunar New Year is the most important of all the traditional Chinese holidays. Three days before the celebrations begin, Chinese families give their home a thorough cleaning. This not only prepares a good environment to welcome the New Year, but people also believe that through this cleaning up, one can sweep away last year's bad luck.
In addition to the house cleaning, decorations from the previous year are replaced with new ones, usually Chinese calligraphy posters and Chinese knots as they are believed to bring good luck.
Besides, people buy new clothing and shoes and get a haircut before the New Year to symbolise a fresh beginning.
In addition, it's considered bad luck to buy shoes and have a haircut during the first lunar month.
The word 'shoes' sounds similar to the word 'rough' in Cantonese and 'evil' in Putonghua.
Then, it's time for the family reunion dinner on the eve of Lunar New Year. Everyone gathers at the eldest member's home for an elaborate dinner. The dishes usually include steamed fish, which symbolises surplus, a type of black moss called 'fat choy', meaning prosperity in Cantonese, as well as dried oyster which symbolises fortune.
