Source: chinaculture.org

01-17-2008 17:37

There is now a big difference in the New Year traditions between Hongkong and inland China in terms of both activities and atmosphere.

In recent years, two emblems of the lunar New Year tradition - spring couplets and New Year paintings -- are no longer pasted on the door panels of the households, instead of which are a short quadrate red paper with four characters like "Sheng Yi Xing Long", which means prosperous business, or "Chu Ru Ping An", which means safe out and safe in. These are also auspicious wishes of successfulness and safety.

Dragon dances and lion dances can now be only seen in some villages. Firework and firecracker display has long been forbidden in Hongkong, but the Victoria Harbor will witness a grand firework display on the night of the second day of the lunar New Year, which has been a 20-odd years' ritual for welcoming the Spring Festival.