Chinese New Year Preparations

So everyone here is preparing for Chinese New Year and I am trying to learn as much as I can about what to do. I have gotten many recommendations and advice from different people.
  
You have to know that Chinese New Year lasts for 15 days, not just 1 or 2. The first day of CNY is called Lunar New Year. The most important days are the Eve of Lunar New Year and the first 3 days on CNY. Therefore, we have 2.5 days off of work for the holiday so it coincides with the weekend this year.

Thursday Feb 19th, 2015 - First Day of CNY / Lunar New Year

Lai Sees
First thing I learned is that during CNY, is that people give out Lai Sees which are red packets with money inside. Bosses give them to employees. People give them to their hair dresser, doorman, helper, and others who regularly help them during the year. Married people give them to single people. :)  And people give them to their friend's young children. You are supposed to give new banknotes so this time of year the lines at the banks are super long and they run out of new notes each day. It's also best to give only one note and no coins. Also need to avoid anything with "4" in it as that is not a good number here.

Interesting Things to Note:

They believe that what happens over CNY will guide your destiny for the year.

• Before CNY you are supposed to:
• clean your apartment and sweep the floors. This is because during CNY you are not supposed to throw out trash or sweep the floor.
• get new clothes and a haircut to have a fresh start in the New Year.
• get your fortune told by a fortune teller
• get a haircut
• Superstitions are well known and people are serious about them. Certain words that sound like the words for "death," "rough" and other bad words are restricted.
  
• Bookstores will be closed all during CNY.
• You are not supposed to buy shoes over CNY (not cool)...
• You should not get your hair done over CNY. Scissors are sharp, you are suppose to avoid sharp objects.
• During certain days of CNY I am told to: don't bargain, don't throw away trash, don't argue, don't eat chicken, don't sweep the floor and don't wash your hair.
• Do not take medicine. If you take medicine you will be sick all year.

CNY Schedule (as best I know it):
In preparing for CNY, one should clean their house.

There are a ton of markets especially flower markets where you should go to buy plants and flowers for your home.

There is also a Wishing Tree where you go and write your wish on a paper and throw it into the tree before or during CNY.

Eve of Lunar New Year: The night before most people go home to their family and share a meal.
Day 1 (Thursday): All family members should wear new clothes (head to toe.) There is a parade in TST at 8 PM
Day 2 (Friday): Fireworks over the Harbor
Day 3 (Saturday): Do not visit people, go to temple (suggested Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin) to change your destiny for the new year.


Here's to the Year of the Sheep/Goat!

I will share pictures as it all unfolds.

Kung Hei Fat Choy!