Rituals

Ancient people believed certain practices would bring them good or bad luck. So they did
what they thought was good for their fortune and avoided those which were thought bad
for them. Nowadays, many rituals still being practice through out their life either from birth,
marriage, festival and death.
The birth ritual
All of the rites related to birth, from the praying for the inception of a child when a woman
is not yet pregnant to the time when the baby has reached the age of one full year revolve
around the theme of a long life.
Expectant mothers are, therefore, strongly discouraged from moving furniture or renovating
the house during their pregnancy.
Avoid activities such as digging, slaughtering, hammering and looking at unsightly images as
these would lead to undesirable consequences.
Expectant mothers should also refrain from uttering words that are considered taboo or
offensive to deities and spirits.
Chinese mothers also abstain from certain types of food during their pregnancy that are
believed to be harmful to the baby such mutton, crab and cool food.
Upon the birth of the baby, the mother is expected to remain at home during the zuo yue
(坐月) or “30-day confinement period.
The Chinese regard the completion of the full 30 days since birth as the first birthday of the
child or its “full moon” or man yue ( 满 月 ) of the baby’s birth. As man yue marks the
beginning of the child’s life in the community, his impending good health, happiness and
success are paramount concerns of the celebration.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival celebrates the beginning
of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. It was traditionally a time to
honour deities as well as ancestors, and it has also become a time to feast and to visit family
members.
Cleaning and decorating houses with red things
People give their houses a thorough cleaning before the Spring Festival, which symbolizes
sweeping away the bad luck of the preceding year and making their homes ready to receive
good luck.
Enjoying a family reunion dinner on lunar new year's eve
The Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is called 'reunion dinner'. Big families of several
generations sit around round tables and enjoy the food and time together.
Giving hongbao during Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is the happiest time of the year for nearly all
children in China. No matter what region or background their families are from, they
normally receive hongbao (lucky money). Hongbao usually consists of brand new bills put in
a red envelop and given by the elders of the family. The hongbao represents blessings for
the year to come. People tend to stop receiving hongbao when they begin to work, but in
some parts of China (for example Guangdong and Hong Kong), people can receive hongbao
until they get married.

Setting Off Firecrackers and Fireworks

setting off firecrackers and fireworks is an indispensable festive activity. It is a way to scare
away the evil and welcome the new year's arrival.
Watching Lion and Dragon Dances
The lion dance is one of the most important traditions at Chinese New Year. It is performed
to bring prosperity and good luck for the upcoming year. The lion dance is also a way to
create a festive atmosphere and bring happiness. Chinese dragons symbolize wisdom,
power, and wealth, and they are believed to bring good luck.
Wedding ceremony
Do not wear black or white to Chinese weddings. Black and white are worn at funerals, so
that is considered bad luck. Also, don't wear red, because that's what the bride will wear.
Red colour is associated with many positive traits such as success, loyalty, honour, fertility
and love. Because of this, traditional Chinese bridal dresses are generally red. Gold is also
commonly seen in decorative wedding accents, as it portrays wealth and fortune.
The Chinese tea ceremony is an imperative tradition to be performed at Chinese weddings.
This is the time the bride and groom express their respect, gratitude, and appreciation for
their parents’ love, support, and effort in raising them.

Death rituals
When a death occurs, the living room of the deceased’s home is cleared of all furniture and
household items, as death is considered to be a polluting element. The idols of deities and
mirrors at home are covered with a piece of red cloth or paper so as to avoid offending
them by “exposing” them to death. A red or white banner is plastered over the main door of
the house to indicate that a death has occurred in the household
Nowadays, white or black garments are commonly adopted as the general colours of
mourning. It is also taboo to wear bright colours such as red or yellow during the mourning
period.

After the washing and dressing of the body, the rulian (入殓), or “entering the wood”, ritual
is performed. A mirror and a bag of grain are placed in the coffin to “light the way” and to
ensure that the deceased will be well fed in the afterworld. The family also will burn joss
paper (or spirit paper) ,fake paper money and miniature items like cars, houses, and
televisions are burned. These items are sometimes associated with the loved one's interests
and are believed to follow them into the afterlife. This way they have everything they need
when they enter the spirit world.
Mourners will wear a cloth band on their arms to show that they are in a period of
mourning. If the deceased is a man, the band goes on the left sleeve. If the deceased is a
woman, the band is pinned to the right sleeve.
Courtesy
Courtesy is the showing of politeness in one's attitude and behaviour towards others.

Don’t give someone white flowers. They are for funerals. No exceptions.
Don’t give clocks as gifts. Especially to the elderly. It’s the functional equivalent of telling
someone that their days are numbered.
Do give an appropriate greeting. If you are meeting someone in a business context, shake
hands and smile. If it is someone older than you with some sort of rank, you may do a very
slight bow from the shoulders as a sign of respect.
Do let elders take the lead at dinner. They sit first and get served first, and pour is always
poured for them first. Do not start eating before they take their first bite.
Do slurp your soup. It’s a sign of appreciation for the chef’s cooking. It is also not uncommon
to let out a burp.
Don’t stick your chopsticks upright into your food while pausing during a meal. This
resembles incense, which is what many people use to pray for the dead. Bad juju.
Don’t point at people. Especially when talking or gesturing, and do not point your finger at
someone. It’s considered hostile and extremely rude.
Don’t use first names unless someone tells you to. Always use “Mrs.” or “Mr.”
Don’t be late. Punctuality is a sign of respect, and don’t expect to get away with blaming
your tardiness on subway traffic the way you can in New York. Just be on time.
Don’t whistle. Whistling at home feels charming and all-American. In China it’s considered a
nuisance. At night, it's said to attract spirits. During the day, it is considered mischievous.

https://www.vogue.com/article/chinese-etiquette-rules-being-polite-china#:~:text=If
%20you%20are%20meeting%20someone,It's%20a%20sign%20of%20respect.