The Chinese New Year of the Rabbit is just around the corner and with it comes a time for celebration, family, friends, and of course – Money.
The new year is all about new beginnings, fresh starts, and building your fortune!
My wife is from Taiwan and by now we’ve almost enjoyed 20 Chinese New Year celebrations together in Taiwan, Singapore, and Switzerland. I always enjoy celebrating and immersing myself in Chinese New Year festivities and thought it was time to share and explore these beautiful traditions in the form of a blog post.
Always welcome the new morning with a new spirit, a smile on your face, love in your heart, and good thoughts in your mind.
Let’s dive in together and find out how to bring in good luck and riches during the year of the rabbit!
1. Chinese New Year Red Envelopes
Red envelopes are a special kind of envelope given to children during Chinese New Year. Inside the envelope is money, which is meant to bring good luck and happiness. Red envelopes are also given as gifts to family and friends, as a way to wish them good luck for the coming year.
The amount of money in the envelope is usually small, like some coins or paper money. This symbolizes the sharing of good fortune and is thought to bring even more luck and happiness!
The amount of money being gifted in red envelopes is important! While it’s also “the more, the marrier”, it is believed that giving specific amounts, lucky numbers, can bring more abundance and luck for the receiver. The numbers 8 and 6 are two of the most auspicious numbers.
恭喜發財，紅包拿來 – Gōngxǐ fācái hóngbāo ná lái！
Show generosity by giving away red envelopes with money inside during Chinese New Year celebrations!
2. Spend Money to bring Good Luck and Prosperity
People will often go on shopping sprees to buy new clothes, jewelry and other items in order to make sure they look their best during this time of celebration. Some also look at buying new items as a form of investing: New clothes or jewelry will bring fortune!
The idea behind this comes from embracing the abundance mindset within. This tradition is supposed to work a bit like “money karma“:
The more money you spend, the luckier and wealthier you will get.
Disclaimer from my side: It’s important to keep your spending in check!
Even if it might not be a “good investment”, new items will make you appear renewed, fresh, and ready for a new year full of new opportunities!
3. Pay off Debts before Chinese New Year
People use Chinese New Year as an opportunity to pay off any lingering debts in order to start the new year on a good financial footing. They pay off any existing debts before the Chinese New Year starts.
While you ought to do this before Chinese New Year, some also pay off debts with money that has been gifted during Chinese New Year.
This further symbolizes the new beginning and getting rid of old baggage.
4. There’s no Number 4 during Chinese New Year
The number 4 is often seen as bad luck during the Chinese New Year, and should be avoided if possible. When you speak out “4” in Mandarin Chinese it sounds like dead, dying or death.
This includes avoiding giving money in increments of 4, like 40 or 400, as well as not giving items with a total amount of 4 (like 2+2). 6 or 8 are (2+2+2 or 2+2+2+2) are preferred.
Don’t use 4 in any way under any circumstances.
Let’s pray the gods won’t see this part of the post and quickly move to 5 now…
5. Have a Positive Attitude toward Money and Wealth
The Chinese New Year is a great time to reflect on the past year and look ahead with optimism for the future.
There is no better time to talk with others about money and wealth-related topics than during and shortly after Chinese New Year.
Beware: The atmosphere can be contagious and overwhelming!
While it’s important to have a positive attitude toward money, wealth, and success – this positive mindset and spirit during the festive season might need a reality check afterward.
However, during this time anything is possible and this thinking oftentimes helps attract abundance.
Let the dragon guide you and keep you safe on your adventures in the New Year!
It’s the time to dream, think and talk big!
6. Believe Abundance is Possible, Strive for it Through hard Work and Dedication
Look forward to the year of the Rabbit with a sense of hope and optimism and anything will be possible!
Rabbit years are a time of abundance, opportunity, and luck. The best way to take advantage of all the good energy in the air is by believing that anything is possible and working hard towards it.
Do the work!
Even if you don’t receive a red envelope, good luck and prosperity will come to those who have the patience and dedication to strive for it.
May Your New Year be as bright as the lanterns that light the Sky!
7. Gambling Games
While frowned upon by many, there is a long-standing tradition of gambling during Chinese New Year. These activities usually take part through playing games like mahjong or dice games such as Sic Bo or Yatzy, sometimes all the way during the night until the early morning hours…
This tradition is believed to bring luck for the upcoming year. While it might be a ton of fun, it is always advised to play these games in moderation. And of course within your budget.
Gambling is not for everyone and should never be used as an investment strategy!
8. Spend – or better – Invest Time with Family and Friends
During Chinese New Year, families will often gather together for reunion lunches, or evenings of board games, karaoke, or mahjong.
This is a great time to catch up with family you haven’t seen in a while and build closer relationships. It’s also an opportunity to learn, share stories, as well as reinforce values such as respect, love, and loyalty.
Last but not least:
It’s great to understand where you’re coming from and how others overcame challenges in the past year.
This is an important time to get together and spend quality time with family and friends.
This tradition reminds us that wealth isn’t just measured in money – it’s also measured in relationships.
Final Thoughts
This Chinese New Year, when the firecrackers are set off at midnight on New Year’s Eve in hopes that it will ward away evil spirits and bring good luck for the upcoming year, don’t forget to take the time to appreciate the people around you and enjoy this special occasion!
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If you celebrate Chinese New Year, what traditions and mindsets around money do you find most interesting yourself? Please feel free to share in the comments below.
May this New Year bring all of us affluence in Health, Wealth, and Wisdom!
兔腳為你開財路，兔耳為你撞鴻運，兔背為你馱康壽，讓這頭兔伴你左右，永遠動如脫兔，新春福兔送吉祥，銀兔進家富滿堂，肥兔祝你壽延長，奶兔為你送健康，耕兔願你糧滿倉。
Happy New Year 兔 You!
恭喜發財！
Matt