Year of the Snake: Alumni share Lunar New Year traditions around the world
As the joyous spirit of the Lunar New Year envelops us and the Dragon’s reign gives way to the arrival of the Snake, it is the perfect time to explore the myriad ways this cherished festival is celebrated worldwide. Shaped by the global footprint of Chinese communities, these celebrations form a rich tapestry of diversity and tradition. We have gathered insights from alumni across different regions, offering a glimpse into their distinctive New Year rituals. Through their stories, we extend a symphony of blessings, wishing everyone a year filled with prosperity, joy, and success! Singapore, with its Chinese population making up approximately 70% of the total, celebrates Lunar New Year with a vibrant and deeply rooted festive spirit. In Chinatown, known locally as “Ngau Che Shui”, the streets are filled with celebratory goods starting from the 12th lunar month, drawing crowds preparing for the new year. A sought-after treat is dried pork (barbecued pork slices), with queues at renowned stores often stretching four to five hours. A highlight of new year gatherings is the “Prosperity Toss” (or “Lohei”), a colourful dish of raw fish and assorted ingredients, symbolising good fortune. This tradition originated in Southeast Asia and has only recently gained popularity in places like Hong Kong. The festivities continue with the grand Chingay Parade on the second weekend of Lunar New Year. Performers dress in traditional Chinese costumes parade through Orchard Road or the city centre, creating a spectacular display of culture and celebration. When visiting during the new year, it is customary to bring two mandarins as a gift, with the host returning one as a gesture of mutual blessings. My wife’s family has a unique tradition where tea is served to elders before red envelopes are distributed. I extend my best wishes to all Business School alumni worldwide for continued growth, prosperity, and success in the year ahead! Like many Chinese communities, Chaoshan people were also given red envelopes by their elders during new year’s eve, known as “Yayaoqian”, symbolising that there will always be money in their wallets. Red envelopes contain even-numbered amounts in new banknotes as a symbol of good fortune. In Chaoshan, a treasured Lunar New Year tradition is “Yinglaoye,” a ritual to invite (“ying”) the gods (“laoye”) from their temples onto a ceremonial carriage. Villagers carry the carriage through the streets before returning it to the temple, offering prayers for blessings and a prosperous year. Another unique custom is the “Yingge Dance”, also known as the “traditional Chinese warrior dance”, which combines dance, martial arts, and Chinese opera to dispel evil spirits and bring peace and good fortune. One year, I returned to my ancestral home for Lunar New Year and joined the “Yinglaoye” procession. When the ceremonial carriage passed an elderly man’s house, the procession paused, and the elders guided him forward to worship. It was a deeply moving moment, reflecting the community’s reverence for tradition and its heartfelt warmth. Even now, I can still hear the echoing drums and smell the lingering incense, evoking a sense of enduring connection and nostalgia. In the coming year, I wish all alumni a fresh start, free of worries, and filled with prosperity and good fortune. As a Hakka Chinese from Miaoli County in Taiwan, we observe a New Year’s Eve tradition known as “Diansuihuo”, where candles are kept alight throughout the night. Another cherished custom involves adding charcoal to “fire baskets”— bamboo-woven cylindrical containers with a clay pot at their core. These rituals mark the passage from the old year to the new, as families gather to celebrate and enjoy time together. Worshipping gods and ancestors is a cornerstone of the Hakka Lunar New Year. Hakka families honour the Heavenly God two days prior to the new year, followed by a visit to the ancestral hall with relatives of the same surname to pay homage to ancestors and the God of the Earth. This tradition symbolises a reunion between the living and their forebears. Offerings typically include three types of meat — pork, chicken, and fish — along with five cups of tea and five cups of wine. Other items like dumplings, sweets, and apples are prepared, each carrying symbolic meanings such as unity, sweetness, and peace. Food is at the heart of the celebration. Preparations start early, with an array of traditional dishes such as braised pork, cured meats, sausages, and squid hanging up, filling the air with a rich aroma. Signature dishes include steamed rice cakes, turnip cakes, sweet glutinous rice cakes, and braised pork belly with buns. On the first day of the new year, families typically begin with a vegetarian meal. Though many of these traditions have gradually faded, the warmth and cherished memories they evoke remain vivid and enduring. Wishing all alumni a prosperous Year of the Snake, brimming with good fortune and success! As a top tourist destination, Macao attracts an influx of visitors during Lunar New Year, leading to crowd control measures at major attractions. Locals, meanwhile, often choose to avoid these areas, opting instead to dine and shop in the city’s integrated resorts. The government sets up designated stalls on the Macao Peninsula and in Taipa, selling a variety of fireworks and firecrackers, allowing residents and tourists to greet the new year amid a festive cheer. Other celebrations in Macao mirror traditional rituals. Homes are adorned with spring couplets, flowers, and mandarin orange trees. Families and friends exchange visits or gather for celebratory meals at restaurants, and many visit temples to offer prayers. Married elders present red envelopes to younger, unmarried friends and relatives, with amounts ranging from 20 to 1,000 MOP, depending on the closeness of the relationship. However, families who have lost a direct relative in the past year refrain from giving red envelopes as part of tradition. One of my most unforgettable Lunar New Year experiences was the year my daughter was born. Her due date coincided with the holiday, so I stayed close to home and avoided travelling. She arrived later than expected though, and the doctor scheduled me for an induction the following morning. However, she decided to make her entrance that night, sparing me the need for an additional procedure — a gesture I remain deeply grateful for! Wishing all alumni a prosperous Year of the Snake filled with good health, happiness, and success! Beijing, a city steeped in cultural heritage, comes alive during Lunar New Year with vibrant temple fairs (or Miaohui) at iconic locations like the Ditan Temple, Longtan Lake, and the Summer Palace. These fairs bustle with visitors enjoying games, local delicacies, book markets, and traditional folk performances. Many also try their luck with lottery tickets. The Lunar New Year holiday typically lasts seven days, during which families reunite at their elders’ homes to share festive meals, watch the Spring Festival Gala, and light firecrackers and fireworks. Some even stay up all night to welcome the New Year before visiting relatives and exchanging gifts. In 2022, the time after I completed the FMBA programme, I celebrated Lunar New Year with my one-year-old son and family, marking the first time four generations came together — a truly unforgettable experience. Our three generations captured the moment in photographs during the gathering. As an investor in the healthcare sector, I remain cautiously optimistic about the future. May we all embrace hope as we face challenges, and may the New Year bring peace, joy, and happiness to you and your loved ones! CUHK Business School has a proud network of over 45,000 alumni in 50 countries. To explore our inspiring alumni stories, please click here. If you reside out of Hong Kong, please also feel free to connect with our GLOBAL ALUMNI AMBASSADORS in your locality and foster a stronger alumni community worldwide with us!
Danny Chung (IBBA 1990): Singaporeans exchange lucky mandarins for prosperity
Xu Duojuan [EMBA (Chi) 2021]: “Yayaoqian” symbolises everlasting wealth in Chaoshan
Chen Jui-hung [EMBA (AP) 2011]: Hakka families light up New Year’s Eve
Candy Ho (MScFIN 2013): Macao welcomes prosperity with the bang of firecrackers
Gao Yanting (FMBA 2022): Celebrating heritage at Beijing’s temple fairs
