THE Chinese New Year is one of the most celebrated holidays in Asia and around the world. The festivities center on centuries-old customs rich in symbolism to drive off bad luck and bring good fortune for the year ahead. These include food, lanterns, dragons and fireworks. The upcoming celebrations may be different from those of previous years, but there are still many ways to safely ring in the new year and attract good luck.
Here are four traditional ways to welcome the Year of the Ox with good energies:
Cleaning one’s house
It is best to start the new year with a clean space to boost one’s mood and motivation. One can get organized with storage bins and baskets from Ashley Furniture. Damaged appliances can be replaced with upgrades from Asian Home Appliances and door handles, clogged toilets and broken window seals can be repaired with the help of tools from True Value. Making sure the house is neat and tidy before the clock strikes midnight can help get rid of bad luck and negative energies from the past year.
Sharing one’s blessings
The giving of red packets or ang pao with crisp bills inside means that one is sharing his blessings and bestowing happiness and good luck to the receiver. Ang pao are usually given to children, but anyone can receive these red packets from friends, family and colleagues.
Going all out in red
Red is the primary color during Chinese New Year celebrations because it symbolizes joy, luck and success. To get in the new year mood, one can wear his best red outfit from trendy homegrown brands like Bench and Penshoppe and accessorize with one’s favorite Sunnies Studios eyewear. If one is looking for more affordable but still stylish options, the Surplus Shop has a great variety of red outfit options.
Enjoying a festive meal with loved ones
Chinese New Year celebrations would not be complete without Chinese food staples that bring good luck. One can gather loved ones for a new year feast and chow down on classic food favorites like dumplings, spring rolls, noodles, wonton, fish and the ever-popular tikoy. One may also order at Main St. Noodles and Ming Fu through Central Bloc’s Neighborhood Assistant ANA, for a delectable feast and hassle-free preparation.
Welcoming the Year of the Ox is made more fun and special with various finds and activities at Ayala Malls Central Bloc. One can find out if he is in luck this upcoming year with the Chinese Zodiac Horoscope at the Activity Center from Feb. 3 to 12.
To get a head start on new year preparations, one can shop for food and décor at the OXpicious Market located at the Activity Center from Feb. 8 to 12. Mallgoers can ring in the new year with the loud and vibrant Chinese Percussions on Feb. 12 at 6 P.M. at the Activity Center.
One can also shop for food and other items from the comfort of home with the help of Ayala Malls Neighborhood Assistant (ANA). For hassle-free shopping, one can contact ANA on Viber at 09564261692 or message @ANACentralBloc on Facebook Messenger.
For more information, one can follow Ayala Malls Central Bloc on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AyalaMallsCentralBloc/, @AyalaMallsCentralBloc on Instagram and join the Viber Community for real-time announcements at https://bit.ly/ayalamallscebuviber. SPONSORED CONTENT