5 Chinese New Year traditions to try with your flatmates

Uni is all about exploring. Discovering new cultures and traditions is a great way to expand your understanding of the world and create some unforgettable memories. 

With Chinese New Year upon us, here are five traditions you can try with your flat mates at iQ. 

1. Spring clean your room and kitchen 

Start the new year fresh with a spring cleaning sesh with your flatmates. Tidy your room, open the windows and freshen things up to get in touch with sweeping away the bad luck in Chinese culture. Make room for good fortune and make it fun by working together to clean up your shared kitchen and living space. Turn up the music and turn it into a dance party.  

 2. Cook up some dumplings 

Dumplings are a must during Lunar New Year. Plan a get-together for a dumpling making party in your shared kitchen – or your studio kitchen if you wanna get cosy. Chat and laugh while you roll your dumplings, and choose whether to boil, steam or fry them to enjoy them as you like.  

3. Wear something red 

In Chinese culture, red symbolises good fortune and prosperity. Around Chinese New Year, it’s common for people to wear a lot of red to bring good fortune and ward off bad luck.  Try not to wear white or give white flowers – this symbolises mourning and death in Asian culture.  

4. Exchange red envelopes 

Red envelopes are a traditional Chinese New Year gift that symbolise good luck. Organise an exchange with your mates where you can prep some envelopes filled with money, thoughtful messages or other meaningful tokens. Receiving a red envelope means being wished another safe and peaceful year, so it’s a nice way to show people you care about them.  

5. Head to a parade or see some fireworks 

You can expect to see some big fireworks displays and parades in a lot of major cities in the UK. Fireworks are used as a way to celebrate and also to ward off evil in the New Year. Get together with your friends and head out for some celebrations – or, if you’ve got a great view from your uni accommodation, get cosy and enoy the fireworks there.