How Families Can Celebrate Chinese New Year According to Marites Allen

Start and celebrate Chinese New Year right with these tips from International Feng Shui Expert Marites Allen.

In a country that celebrates both Philippine and Chinese culture, families have a strong sense of karma, luck, or suerte (swerte). The concept of fortune and prosperity rings so strongly that we will try all sorts of things to bring more luck to our homes. As Chinese New Year is around the corner, here are some things families can do to start it right according to Feng Shui Queen Marites Allen.

1. Clean the house.

Dust the cabinets and corners, wipe the windows, polish some of the flatware, and maybe donate things you don’t need anymore to clean the house. Besides avoiding a potential infestation, it also helps the air and aura flow through better when there are fewer obstacles. If you’re planning to mop the floor, Marites Allen says to make sure not to do it beyond 9 PM on February 9, 2023, Saturday.

2. Don’t cut your hair.

Hair cutting can be cathartic. It’s like a fresh beginning, letting go of those long locks that have been damaged by UV rays and our trials and errors with strange shampoo and conditioner combinations. Marites Allen however recommends having your hair cut no later than February 7, 2023. Only cut your hair after the new year as the Year of the Tiger is also still a year of conflict for some of the zodiac.

3. Throw chipped away glass or flatware.

While some of us can get attached to our flatware, it’s not a good idea to keep them either. Feng Shui sees chipped glass or flatware as a magnet for poverty which is why Marites Allen advises throwing them out. However, those from Japanese families may advise having someone meld it together with the art of kintsugi instead.

4. Wear red.

Chinese have always worn red in celebrations, whether it’s a new year or a birthday. Traditionally, it’s also seen as a color that wards off evil and attracts happiness because of the “heat” it generates. While there are multiple lucky colors this year, bright shades of red work the best. It fits the theme too when the color of the year 2023 is Viva Magenta.

5. Wear something new.

“New” doesn’t always mean a trip to the mall. It can be clothes that we impulsively bought but never wore. Wearing something new can create the feeling of being open to new things and allow us to be more open to new experiences. According to Marites Allen, she says, “wearing something new also symbolizes good fortune.”

6. Have breakfast together on Day 1.

Depending on some families, some celebrate Day 1 as Chinese New Year itself or the day before that. But it’s important to enjoy breakfast together and Feng Shui reveals that it sends good vibes to start the year. “Families should wake up between 5 am to 7 am. Fathers should call the members of the family to the dining table to have breakfast. Normally, families should eat something sweet first for breakfast to help ensure that the family will only have “sweet” words to say to each other during the year,” she explains.

7. Avoid fights if you can and let go of the past.

Fights are unavoidable but we can choose which battles we need to win or lose. Unfortunately, most of our tactics to win a conflict include dredging the past. “Carrying the past and old grudges are not beneficial to you especially when the Year of the Rabbit is seen as a year of love and peace,” explains Marites Allen. “Try to not use harsh words as it will create a basis for negative vibes that will last the whole year.”

8. Write your wishes.

Writing down one’s wishes helps — according to Marites Allen — release one’s wishes to the heavens. Psychologically, putting the wishes in black and white helps us concretize our thoughts more and make things easier to plan out. It spares us the headache of trying to imagine something.

9. Eat noodles.

“Celebrate Chinese New Year by eating noodles. Noodles symbolize long and healthier life,” says Marites Allen. “A New Year Menu is also composed of some fish dishes which symbolize abundance and duck for fertility — for those who want kids.”

Chinese families have been doing so at every celebration. Chinese restaurants have a wide variety of noodle dishes from Sate Seafood Chami, Bihon, and even Birthday Noodles. Make sure to reserve early or pre-order before the restaurant gets flooded when people start to celebrate Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Some people joke or are even confused about why the Philippines celebrates two kinds of New Year. As a culture, Filipinos have taken on some traditions from those who they’ve traded goods with in the past. Some may even find Chinese in their bloodline. But, a lot of these things aren’t harmful to do and there is a science to back some of these up, especially when helping you find the motivation and luck to get some plans done.

More about Chinese New Year:

Chinese New Year 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit
The Legends of Chinese New Year
How Kids Can Celebrate Chinese New Year At Home