CNY Guide

KUNG HEI FAT CHOY!

Nicole Slater rounds up 8 things to do around town this Chinese New Year

From February 1-3 Hong Kong will be a sea of red and gold as it celebrates the biggest occasion on the Chinese calendar. Ring in the year of the Tiger with these fun and festive things to do. Sweep dust into the middle of the room and out the door to symbolise the sweeping away of bad luck. Going one step further, some homeowners paint door frames and windows in order to encourage good luck to enter.

1Clean up

Homes are thoroughly cleaned in the run up to the festivities, as it is considered bad luck to clean your home during the week of Lunar New Year.

2Visit a flower market

Brighten up your home with a bunch of flowers or a Mandarin tree - these are believed to bring good luck around this time. The famous Victoria Park Market is a popular choice, but if you want to stay away from the crowds visit Prince Edward Flower Market in Mong Kok.

3Go veggie

Legend has it that going vegetarian for the first day of the Lunar New Year (February 1) enhances longevity and helps purify and cleanse the body. Visit one of the city’s many vegetarian restaurants or create your own homemade vegetarian feast.

4Take part in a Lion Dance

Lion and dragon dances are performed just about everywhere during the Lunar New Year. Pop down to your local town centre where you’ll find performers dressed as lions and dragons parading around the town while blessing local businesses.

5Make it rain with Lai See

‘Lai see’ is the traditional name for the lucky red envelopes given by married people to their single relatives, colleagues and those in the service industry during the 15 days preceding Lunar New Year (February 1-15). The envelopes should contain crisp banknotes and the amount is symbolic, do not give any amount that contains the number four as this number is associated with ‘death’ in Chinese culture.

How much to give?

$20 for an acquaintance you see regularly but don’t know well, such as a doorman. $50 for someone close to you such as friends’ children or your hairdresser. $100 as a generous gift to someone you care about. This is generally the minimum bosses give to employees. $500+ is not unheard of, but it is usually given with a good motive such as birthdays or weddings around this time.

6Make a wish at the Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees

A visit to the Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees during Lunar New Year is thought to bring good luck. Traditionally joss paper was tied to an orange and thrown into the tree in an attempt to secure it around a high branch to entice good luck. Free admission. Take bus 64K or 64P from Tai Po Market station and get off at Fang Ma Po.

7Get lucky at Hong Kong Chinese New Year Race Day

On The Third Day of Lunar New Year, head to Sha Tin Racecourse for a spot of betting on the horses. Over 100,000 racing fans will gather to place bets and celebrate. Hong Kong Jockey Club will put on a host of traditional and colourful festivities to accompany the racing. From 11am. The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin Racecourse Stand, Sha Tin. hkjc.com

8Fight off bad luck at Man Mo Temple

It’s not all fireworks and feats; for those born during the Year of the Rat, Snake, Monkey and Dog, bad luck may be on the cards in 2022. In order to ward off the

negative vibes, pay a visit to Man Mo Temple on The Third Day of the Lunar New Year (February 3). It is customary to burn incense, candles and joss paper for protection and to encourage good fortune. If you are not sure what to do, the helpful staff at the temple will show you the ropes. Man Mo Temple, Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan.