Clemton Park Family Medical Centre, Campsie will be closed on the Lunar New Year weekend which falls on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 February.
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year is celebrated by various Asian cultures and communities around the world.
Common traditions include:
Cleaning: Before the New Year arrives, it’s customary to thoroughly clean one’s home to sweep away any bad luck and make way for good fortune in the coming year.
Decorations: Red is a prominent colour symbolizing good luck and prosperity. Homes and streets are adorned with red lanterns, couplets with auspicious phrases, and other festive decorations.
Reunion Dinner: Families gather on New Year’s Eve for a lavish reunion dinner featuring traditional dishes that vary by region but often include symbolic foods such as fish (representing abundance) and dumplings (symbolizing wealth).
Fireworks and Firecrackers: Loud noises are believed to scare away evil spirits and bad luck. Fireworks and firecrackers are commonly set off during the New Year festivities.
Red Envelopes (Hongbao or Ang Pao): Elders give red envelopes containing money to children and unmarried adults as a gesture of blessings and good fortune.
Lion and Dragon Dances: Colourful lion and dragon dances are performed in streets and public spaces, accompanied by drumming and cymbals, to bring prosperity and ward off evil spirits.
Visiting Relatives and Friends: During the New Year period, people visit relatives and friends to exchange greetings and well wishes for the coming year.
Wearing New Clothes: It’s traditional to wear new clothes during the New Year period, symbolizing a fresh start and the welcoming of good fortune.
Offering prayers to ancestors, displaying a kumquat tree in the home, and giving gifts of food to family and friends.
Dumplings and Sticky Rice Cakes: Dumplings (jiaozi) and sticky rice cakes (nian gao) are commonly eaten during Lunar New Year, symbolizing wealth and the coming together of family.
Each culture and family may have its unique customs and rituals to celebrate this auspicious occasion.
We will resume usual trading hours from Monday 12 February 24.
