The Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year, is the biggest celebration of the year for many Asian cultures. The holiday is a big deal in Singapore due to its long historical connection to China, and many of the residents of the city are of Chinese descent. Many tourists are also flocking to the city, as many are able to take off work in order to celebrate. Many people think of the new year as a time to celebrate with friends and family and wipe the slate clean in order to welcome the productivity and happiness that the year has to offer. We at MOGUL.sg thought this would be the perfect time to ring in by using Chinese New Year traditions to refresh and revitalize your home. Here are a few things that we found:
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CLEAN SLATE – Anyone who has binge-watched Tidying up with Marie Kondo can attest to power of clearing your house of unnecessary clutter, but did you know that cleaning the house is one of the long-standing traditions to prepare for Chinese New Year? Many people use the New Year (Lunar or otherwise) as a chance to start again and ridding the house of items you don’t need is a great way to make room for what lies ahead. Cantonese tradition states that you must clean on the 28th of the last month of the Lunar calendar, but any time before the start of the New Year works fine. Many believe it is best not to do any cleaning on the first 3 days of the year because you sweep away “good luck”. Whatever you believe, you can use the first three days to celebrate the beginning of the year and enjoy the fruits of your tidiness.
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LET THE LIGHT IN – Now that you’ve got the cleaning of the house done and dusted, it’s time to get really festive. Walk into any major city in Asia (or even elsewhere) and it’s easy to see that Chinese New Year is just as grand a celebration as any, and the popular red and gold motifs are filling homes all over. Just because its Chinese New Year doesn’t mean you have to dust off your auntie’s hand-me-down decorations. Incorporating traditional elements in a fresh way puts your unique stamp on the holiday. Turn your old red envelopes into bunting by stringing them up! Traditional red lanterns not your thing? Bring the energy of the many fireworks displays into your home without the explosives by hanging paper lanterns in bright colours all over your home. The possibilities are as limited as your imagination!
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NEW ARRANGEMENTS – Give your home a fresh start for the New Year by rearranging the furniture of your home. Chinese New Year is the perfect occasion to incorporate some Feng Shui into your living areas! The Cambridge English dictionary defines Feng Shui as “an ancient Chinese belief that the way your house is built or the way that you arrange objects affects your success, health, and happiness”. Many believe that arranging your house in this way will bring health, luck, and fortune, but if anything it’s also a very practical and pleasant way for decorating your home. You don’t even need to hire an expert to apply feng shui principles into your home. Simple switches like ensuring lots of natural light, keeping tidy and clutter free, or incorporating the five elements of earth, wood, fire, water, and metal through paint, candles, aroma diffusers, or furniture can let the positive energy of your home flow.
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GREEN THUMB – The New Year is a perfect excuse to bring some greenery into your home. There are many plants that are traditionally considered lucky such as lucky bamboo, kumquat trees, orchids, marigolds, and many others that are believed to attract good fortune, while beautifying your home. Having plants in the home also help brighten your mood, invite more air into the space, and can fill that need to nurture and care for a living being without the commitment of a pet. When purchasing plants for the holiday, avoid buying white flowers, yellow chyrsanthemums, or cut flowers, as they are associated with funerals.
These are just some of the ways that you can invite some good fortune and positive energy into your home for the New Year! Whether you’re spending the holiday reconnecting with loved ones, or taking some time to reflect on the past year and the year to come, your home will always be that space where you can create cherished memories that will live on year after year.
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