Happy lunar new year greeting 2025 Lunar New Year Lunar New Year 2025

Happy lunar new year hong kong 2025

Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival (農曆新年), is the most important and widely celebrated festival in Hong Kong. In 2025, the festival falls on January 29, marking the beginning of the Year of the Snake (蛇年) according to the Chinese zodiac. This auspicious occasion is a time for family reunions, cultural traditions, and vibrant festivities, making it one of the most exciting times to be in Hong Kong.

With its unique blend of ancient customs and modern city life, Hong Kong has transformed into a dazzling hub of celebrations, featuring fireworks, parades, traditional lion dances, temple visits, and festive markets. The city is filled with a spirit of joy, prosperity, and renewal as people welcome a new year filled with good fortune and happiness.

Lunar New Year Traditions in Hong Kong

1. Family Reunion Dinner (團年飯)

The Lunar New Year celebrations in Hong Kong begin on the eve of the New Year with the all-important reunion dinner (團年飯, Tuán Nián Fàn). Families gather for a lavish feast to celebrate togetherness, prosperity, and luck for the coming year. Traditional dishes served at the reunion dinner include:

Poon Choi (盆菜) – A luxurious layered dish with seafood, meats, and vegetables, symbolizing abundance.
Steamed Fish (蒸魚) – The word for fish (魚, “yú”) sounds like “surplus” (余, “yú”), signifying prosperity.
Dumplings (餃子, Jiǎozi) – Resembling ancient gold ingots, they symbolize wealth and fortune.
Glutinous Rice Cake (年糕, Nián Gāo) – Represents “growing taller” each year, bringing progress and success.

The New Year’s Eve feast is a time for joy and reflection, setting the stage for a prosperous year ahead.

2. Giving and Receiving Red Packets (利是, Lai See)

One of the most cherished customs of Lunar New Year in Hong Kong is the exchange of red packets (利是, Lai See). These small red envelopes, filled with money, are given as blessings for good fortune and prosperity.

Married couples give red packets to children, unmarried adults, and service workers.
The amount of money should be an auspicious number (such as 88, symbolizing wealth).
Avoid amounts with the number 4, as it sounds like “death” in Chinese.

The act of giving Lai See represents sharing luck and happiness for the new year.

3. Visiting Temples for Blessings

Many Hong Kong residents visit Buddhist and Taoist temples during the Lunar New Year to pray for good fortune, health, and success. Popular temples to visit include:

Wong Tai Sin Temple (黃大仙祠) – Famous for its accurate fortune telling and grand celebrations.
Man Mo Temple (文武廟) – A historic temple where people pray for wisdom and success.
Che Kung Temple (車公廟) – Known for its giant golden windmill, which people spin to bring good luck.

During temple visits, people often burn incense sticks, offer food, and shake fortune sticks (求籤, Kau Chim) to seek guidance for the year ahead.

4. Watching the Lunar New Year Fireworks and Parade

Hong Kong is world-famous for its spectacular Chinese New Year Fireworks Display, held over Victoria Harbour. This breathtaking event, featuring thousands of fireworks lighting up the city skyline, symbolizes driving away bad luck and welcoming prosperity.

In addition to the fireworks, the Lunar New Year Night Parade in Tsim Sha Tsui is a must-see event, featuring:

Vibrant floats and performers
Lion and dragon dances
International performance groups
Traditional Chinese music and acrobatics

This grand parade showcases the rich cultural heritage of Hong Kong and brings an electrifying energy to the celebrations.

5. Visiting the Flower Markets (年宵市場)

During the days leading up to Lunar New Year, locals and tourists flock to flower markets (年宵市場, Nián Xiāo Shì Chǎng) to buy lucky plants and decorations. The most famous market is held at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, where vendors sell:

Peach blossoms (桃花) – Symbolizing love and romance.
Mandarin orange trees (桔樹) – Representing wealth and success.
Lucky bamboo (開運竹) – Bringing good fortune and longevity.

These flowers and plants are placed in homes and businesses to attract good energy and prosperity in the new year.

New Year’s Taboos and Superstitions in Hong Kong

During the Lunar New Year, there are several superstitions and taboos to ensure good luck:

1. Avoid Washing Hair and Cleaning on New Year’s Day

Washing hair or sweeping the floor on the first day of the new year is believed to wash away good fortune. Many people clean their homes before New Year’s Eve to remove bad luck and welcome positive energy.

2. Do Not Break Objects

Breaking plates, mirrors, or cups is considered bad luck, as it symbolizes shattered fortune. If something breaks accidentally, people quickly say “歲歲平安” (Suì Suì Píng Ān), meaning “peace and safety every year,” to counteract bad luck.

3. No Negative Words

Words related to death, illness, ghosts, or poverty are strictly avoided, as they bring bad luck. Instead, people focus on saying auspicious phrases like: