Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, is the most important celebration across Asian countries – spanning China, Vietnam, Korea and now, the US. The holiday falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice on December 21. Like many spring festivals worldwide, the festival celebrates the return of light and abundance to the earth. The spring festival symbolizes new life and prosperity for the coming year.

This year, Spring Festival falls on January 29. Traditionally, Lunar New Year is a week-long festival of abundance – including food, honoring gods or ancestors, visiting family, and, yes, cleaning. This spring cleaning symbolizes getting rid of the old and making room for new good fortune.

Specifics of the Spring Cleaning Tradition

From the 23rd to the 29th of the 12th lunar month, all the cleaning and shopping is done in preparation for a big feast served to family and extended family. Sweeping out the bad luck of the old year (in Mandarin the word for “‘dust” and “old” sound similar) is essential before festivities begin.

As a relief after all this cleaning…sweeping, mopping, washing, or taking out the garbage are to be avoided the first few days of the new year. You wouldn’t want to sweep out the good fortune!

Decorating for the celebration, or even year round, certain colors are associated with attracting happiness and good fortune.

Colors of the Lunar New Year

RED

Decorating with the color red is associated with happiness, prosperity, and good fortune.

GOLD

Gold symbolizes wealth, prosperity, and success.

YELLOW

Yellow is associated with happiness, health, and longevity.

GREEN

Green invites positive energy, mimicking the growth and renewal of the earth.

WHITE

White symbolizes purity, cleansing, and regeneration.

What is old that you would like to clear out of your life to make space for new blessings?