Other paper cuttings feature the zodiac animal representing the new year, or fruits with auspicious meanings. Characters include Fu (福), Lu (祿), Shou (寿), and Xi (禧), meaning luck, wealth, longevity, and happiness. The cuttings typically feature one character in Chinese folk art tradition or image that represent the wishes and desires for the coming year. Using scissors and knife to cut paper into symbols and characters is a fun-filled pastime activity to rally in your troops. Paper cuttings (剪紙) Chinese New Year paper cutting depicting the Monkey King (© Creative life via Canva) They come in all sizes, so it won’t be hard to spot this eye-catching gem. Chinese knots can be seen as room décor hung on doors, walls, and around shops. And, the fact that they’re knotted also portrays a strong, united bond with your loved ones. The knots are normally round to indicate completeness and wholesomeness. Not straying from the lucky red colour we’ve seen so far in the festive décor, Chinese knots symbolize a prosperous, long life. Once a way to historically record information, Chinese knots are now an intricately woven handicraft made of one cord that’s iconic among Chinese New Year decorations.

One notable place to see the hanging lanterns is Lee Tung Avenue in Wanchai.Ĭhinese knots (中國結) Tying a traditional Chinese knot (© wonry/ Alina Khakimova via Canva) Find them at home, temples, as pop-up displays inside malls and on the streets of the city. The lanterns are known to ward off evil and bad luck and their red colour is associated with good luck. They spark the new year festivities with their jovial aesthetics, but also create such a beautiful visage at night when lit that it’s no wonder they’re a symbol for happiness. Red Chinese lanterns are a prominent staple in Chinese culture, and perhaps the most striking emblem associated with Chinese New Year. Hanging lanterns (燈籠) Globular Chinese lanterns hanging above a Hong Kong street (© Leung Cho Pan via Canva) These lucky sayings are usually hung in pairs in auspicious regards, but can also double or quadruple the luck. One character in particular, fuk (福), which means good fortune, is often times hung upside down on a diamond-shaped sheet of paper to signify the pouring of good luck onto the individual. Fai chun, also known as door couplets, are the red strips of paper hung at the entrances of homes featuring a calligraphy of characters denoting success, good luck, and fortune. When visiting friends and relatives from door to door during the holiday, the first thing spotted are fai chuns. Red packet tree (红包树) Fai chun (揮春) The lucky ‘fuk’ is pasted onto the front door and walls of homes (© yipengge via Canva)

Chinese new year decorations