
(If you haven’t prepared your own “go” yet, here’s an easy recipe for turnip cake, a beloved Lunar New Year dish.)

The word for cakes and puddings is “gao” in Mandarin or “go” in Cantonese, which sounds the same as the word for “tall,” meaning eating them is believed to lead to improvements and growth in the coming year.

On the 26th day of the last lunar month – January 28 this year – festive cakes and puddings are made. So how is the Lunar New Year traditionally celebrated? It all begins about a week ahead of the new year. Though the spread of Omicron has impacted the way people are celebrating this year, don’t despair and remember the unofficial #1 tip from the Lunar New Year rule book: Focus on the positive and only use auspicious language. (In China, it’s also referred to as the Spring Festival.) Lunar New Year festivities can often last for up to 15 days, with different tasks and activities taking place over that period. Here’s a quick guide to the most common Lunar New Year traditions and superstitions, as well as insights from some of Hong Kong’s most established geomancers on what the Year of the Tiger might have in store. Though the pandemic continues to overshadow the occasion, with public festivities once again pared down or canceled in many cities, millions of families around the world will still be celebrating at home.

Saying goodbye to the Ox, we enter the Year of the Tiger on February 1, 2022. Dust off your pink, tiger-print jacket – it’s time to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
