Why Is The Color Red So Prominent During The Lunar New Year?

The Chinese believe that colors represent various ideas and are connected to the immediate environment around us. Red, however, has been very prominent in their culture for centuries as it is deemed an auspicious color.

According to ancient legends, the beast ‘Nian’ would invade villages on Chinese New Year’s Eve and destroy crops and livestock. One night, Nian was scared away by a child dressed in red. Since then, the villagers would hang red lanterns and spring scrolls with couplets to keep the beast away.

Red is also the traditional color of the dominant ethnic group in China—the Han people. It signifies fortune, luck, and vitality.

During the Lunar New Year, the Chinese would decorate themselves and their houses with new red clothing and lanterns to ward off evil spirits and bring in luck.

‘Lai See’ are red envelopes filled with cash and are given to kids, single young adults, and the elderly on the Lunar New Year. They are believed to bring good luck and health in the coming year.