During the Lunar New Year, it's a common tradition to decorate homes with "Fai Chun" to bring in festive vibes and good luck for the upcoming year. Traditional Fai Chun is created with calligraphy on red paper, featuring auspicious phrases. Modern versions come in various styles, including colorful prints with congratulatory messages, cartoons, zodiac animals, and three-dimensional designs. These decorations are typically placed in prominent locations like the front door, room doors, walls, and cabinets. However, there are several important taboos to be aware of when decorating with Fai Chun to ensure you don't inadvertently invite bad luck:
1. Odd Numbers for Main Door
Odd numbers are considered lucky and yang, symbolizing auspiciousness. When decorating your front door with Fai Chun, ensure that you use an odd number of decorations to attract good fortune.
2. Avoid Using a Single "Spring" Character
In ancient times, a single "Spring" character was mainly used at places like "Yi Hong Yuan" (similar to modern-day entertainment venues). Using it at home might attract unwanted romantic attention, so it's best to avoid it.
3. Quantity of Fai Chun Inside the House
It's generally recommended to use eight pieces of Fai Chun, as the number eight is associated with prosperity. Avoid using numbers like 4 or 7, as they are considered unlucky due to their phonetic resemblance to "death" in Chinese.
4. Consider Zodiac Compatibility
When choosing Fai Chun designs, consider the zodiac signs of yourself and your family members. Avoid using phrases or imagery that clash with your zodiac signs. For example, people born in the Year of the Rat should avoid decorations with "dragon" or "horse" themes. If you're unsure about zodiac compatibility, opt for designs that are free from zodiac elements.
5. Avoid Upside-Down Fai Chun
Some people believe that turning the characters "福" (meaning "prosperity") and "財" (meaning "wealth") upside down will bring good luck. However, from a Feng Shui perspective, this practice symbolizes inverted fortune and wealth, potentially leading to financial loss.
6. Do Not Keep Fai Chun Up All Year
Fai Chun is meant to be displayed during the Lunar New Year festivities and should not remain up all year round. Over time, the paper and ink may deteriorate, and the blessings can fade. It's recommended to remove them after the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year.
7. Tear Off Old Fai Chun
When removing old Fai Chun, it's customary to tear them apart. This act symbolizes the removal of the old and the welcoming of the new. Do not place new Fai Chun directly on top of old ones; instead, ensure a fresh start by removing the old decorations.
8. Do Not Decorate with Fai Chun During Mourning
If there has been a death in the family within the past year, it's important not to decorate with Fai Chun during the Lunar New Year. This practice is seen as celebrating during a mourning period. Additionally, avoid making rice dumplings, as it symbolizes the continuation of mourning, attracting more unfortunate events.
