Chen Ling at Kinghelm: How Family Traditions Create a Symphony of New Year Joy
The 26th day of the twelfth lunar month is considered an auspicious day to move into a new home. Choosing this date honors the tradition of “bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new”—sweeping away a year’s dust and embracing the New Year in a fresh space. My mother prepared traditional items: a zengzi (a steaming utensil from our hometown), firewood, rice, oil, and salt. We also brought pots and bowls, apples, dragon fruit, a ladder, and fire. At midnight, as the clock struck twelve, my father stepped into the new house carrying a blazing flame, proclaiming that life would flourish with prosperity. My mother followed, holding rice, gold ingots, and red envelopes, wishing, “May wealth roll in.” Behind them came elders, siblings, and relatives, each carrying offerings and blessings. Some said, “Step by step to success,” others, “Peace and safety,” “Abundant wealth,” or “May everything go as you wish.” The elders’ faces beamed like warm winter sunshine, radiating joy and comfort....
