Year of the Dragon – Day One

The first day of the New Year is known as Yuan Dan (First Morning of the year), New Year’s Day, First Day (or Duan Ri).

The first day is dedicated to the welcoming of the deities of the heavens and earth, officially commencing at midnight. Day one of the festival also symbolises a new start in one’s life, refreshing hopes for prosperity, wealth and happiness.

The most important element of the day is the focus on family; in particular it is a time to honour one’s elders. On this day people will visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended families – usually their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.

“Bài nián” refers to both paying a New Year’s call on relatives and friends as well as ‘wishing somebody a Happy New Year’.

There is also the tradition of welcoming guests with tea and sweet treats – which are supposed to sweeten one’s upcoming year. Sweets and fruits are served on a round or octagonal tray – the form resembling togetherness and hence the tray is most commonly translated as the “Tray of Togetherness”.

Traditionally the sweets will be arranged in eight units, as the number eight symbolises luck.

Visitors will bring a small gift to the household they are visiting – usually oranges, tangerines, mandarins as these fruits symbolise gold – hence wealth and good fortune.

A traditional Buddhist vegetarian dish called “Jai” or Buddha’s Delight is prepared on this day using 18 different ingredients as the Chinese believe 18 to also be a lucky number signifying wealth and prosperity. (Check out our recipe for Buddha’s Delight - click here).

Todays Horoscope (Water Dragon):
Dragon people double their efforts in whatever they do – work, education and other projects. Their natural talent and abilities lead them to stand out and they have great results. However, watch out for your temper! Keep it in check and do not spoil your good work in 2012. 

Don’t know your sign and element? Check out  Chinese Horoscopes – Guide to your Sign

Quirky fact of the Day: 
A complete cycle of the Chinese calendar takes 60 years.

Word of the Day:
“Fu” – the Chinese word for “luck”
*Around the Chinese New Year, people often put up a poster with this word on it – upside down! It’s the only time when a Chinese word is posted upside down intentionally.