Message from Mr. Marine
As we bid farewell to the Year of the Tiger and welcome the Year of the Dragon, communities around the world make preparations for the festivities of Lunar New Year. This prosperous occasion, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is a time for family reunions, delicious feasts and age-old traditions.
To all our customers, partners and friends, we extend our heartfelt wishes for a joyous and prosperous Lunar New Year. May the Year of the Dragon bring you success, happiness and fulfillment in all your endeavors!
Lunar New Year Traditions
Chinese New Year celebrations span across 15 days, beginning on the first day of the lunar calendar and culminating with the Lantern Festival. Each day is marked by various customs and traditions that symbolize prosperity, good fortune and warding off evil spirits. Homes and streets come alive with vibrant red decorations, symbolizing luck and prosperity. Red lanterns, couplets with hopeful phrases, and paper cutouts decorate doorways, bringing a festive atmosphere to the surroundings.
Furthermore, Chinese New Year is a time for families to come together for a reunion dinner on the eve of the new year. This meal, known as “Nian Ye Fan,” features traditional dishes symbolizing good luck and prosperity, such as fish for abundance and longevity, dumplings for wealth, and nian gao (sticky rice cake) for higher income or status. Fireworks and firecrackers light up the night sky during the festivities, believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck for the coming year. The cacophony of sounds and colors is a hallmark of the celebrations, signaling a new beginning.
Colorful lion and dragon dances are performed during parades and festivities. These energetic performances are believed to bring good luck and prosperity to the community and are accompanied by the rhythmic beats of drums and cymbals. Last but not least, red envelopes, known as “hongbao” or “laisee”, are filled with money and given as gifts to children, family members and employees as a symbol of good luck and blessings for the new year.
Happy Year of the Dragon!
As we embrace the traditions and customs of Chinese New Year, let us head into the Year of the Dragon with hope, joy and unity. From all of us at Mr. Marine, we wish you a favorable and fulfilling Lunar New Year! Gong xi fa cai!
