As the Year of the Snake arrives, test your brain with the crossword above and learn a bit more about Chinese New Year traditions. To give you a helping hand, here are some tips:
1. Celebrated in China and some Asian countries. It is when all family members get together, just like Christmas in the West.
2. Comprising two lines of poetry, they typically exhibit symmetrical structure and harmonious rhythm and convey wishes for happiness, auspiciousness, and prosperity. People hang them on their doorways, walls, or windows to make wishes for the coming year.
3. An important family activity. People are out and about mainly buying new clothes, red decorations, meat, snacks, and firecrackers. Moreover, candies, peanuts, and sunflower seeds are a must on the list.
4. An important custom for the whole family to stay awake until midnight to welcome the new year. In ancient times, people didn’t dare to go out of their homes because of the monster Nian, so they stayed awake all night for safety.
5. A family reunion meal on New Year’s Eve. It is the most important meal for the family at the end of the year. The most common foods include dumplings, fish, spring rolls, and niangao.
6. A light event that marks the final day of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations. There are many themes that can be used, such as animals, plants, sea creatures, international architecture, ancient stories, and more.
7. There are always cash in them, and are often given to children and (retired) seniors. People believe that they will bring good luck, wealth, and prosperity to carriers.
8. A carnival-like event usually held on an open ground in or near a temple. They feature all kinds of Chinese folk arts. Craftsmen set up their stalls to show and sell their handicrafts; folk artists established a stage for singing, dancing, story-telling, comic dialogues, etc.
9. A Chinese New Year’s tradition that’s kept to the word. People visit ancestors’ graves before the reunion dinner, to show that they are letting their ancestors “eat” first.
10. A form of traditional performance. Performers wear lion or dragon-like costumes, especially in red and gold, which signify happiness, wealth, and good fortune.
Written by Sha Liu, poster Design by Di Wang.
Answers can be found in our other Year of the Snake article: Year of the Snake: Check your fortune of the year of wood snake in 2025
