Make this traditional Chinese tradition to invite luck into your home (2024)

Molly Duffy

Feb. 8, 2021 11:06 am, Updated: Feb. 8, 2021 11:24 am

Make this traditional Chinese tradition to invite luck into your home (1)

As the Lunar New Year approaches — this year on Feb. 12 — families in China often decorate their front doors with an upside-down 'fu' symbol.

'Fu' means luck, and this tradition is all about getting lucky. Placing the character upside-down symbolizes it 'pouring out' or 'arriving.' An upside-down fu character on your front door is a clever way to invite luck's arrival at your home.

To make this door decoration, follow these steps:

1. Red is a lucky color in Chinese culture. Make a red sheet of paper with crayons or markers, or use red construction paper, then cut it into a perfect square.

2. Turn the square 45 degrees to the side, making a diamond.

3. Print and cut out the symbol pictured above, then turn it upside-down. Glue or tape it to your paper and put it on your door. To print the picture, click the download button below. The image will open in a new window, and you can print it.

Download

Comments: molly.duffy@thegazette.com

Chines Fu symbol. (Adobe Stock)

Make this traditional Chinese tradition to invite luck into your home (2024)

FAQs

Make this traditional Chinese tradition to invite luck into your home? ›

'Fu' means luck, and this tradition is all about getting lucky. Placing the character upside-down symbolizes it 'pouring out' or 'arriving. ' An upside-down fu character on your front door is a clever way to invite luck's arrival at your home.

What is the traditional Chinese character for luck? ›

Chinese symbol: , good fortune; good luck, fortunate; blessing, happiness.

Why is luck so important in Chinese culture? ›

There are Chinese symbols and meanings revolve around good fortune and positive elements. The Chinese believe that by filling their lives with lucky objects and images, they increase their prosperity and happiness, making their existence more joyful and fulfilling.

What is the Chinese housewarming tradition? ›

Many Chinese households have household deities or gods that are believed to protect the home and its occupants. When moving into a new house, families may make offerings to these deities, such as lighting incense, placing sweets or fresh fruits, and reciting prayers to seek their blessings and protection.

What is the traditional Chinese character for home? ›

家 (jiā) means family, home, or house in Chinese.

How to attract good luck Chinese? ›

7 Feng Shui Tips to Boost Luck and Wealth
  1. Find the Xun Position.
  2. Place a Fountain Inside Your Home.
  3. Clean the Entry Gate on a Regular Basis.
  4. Adding Citrine Crystals to Your Home.
  5. Place a Feng Shui Money Frog at Home.
  6. Keep a Bowl of Oranges at Your Home.
  7. Feng Shui Turtles on Top of a Dragon.
Mar 13, 2023

How to get good luck in Chinese? ›

Here are 12 dos and don'ts to get you started.
  1. DO: Clean the house. But before New Year's Day. ...
  2. DO: Deck the halls. ...
  3. DO: Wear red. ...
  4. DO: Give out (or receive) red envelopes. ...
  5. DO: Eat lucky food. ...
  6. DON'T: Eat unlucky food. ...
  7. DON'T: Bathe. ...
  8. DON'T: Sweep.
Jan 27, 2021

Does Chinese believe in luck? ›

The Chinese,about 90% BELIEVES in luck! They call it,'ong'! During the Chinese New Year(CNY),they emphasise on luck,prosperity,wealth and health! They wish like this:”May this New Year brings you luck and wealth”,”wishing you prosperity”,”may you have good fortune”,etc!

What color is good luck? ›

Red is symbolic of good fortune, luck, vitality, celebration and prosperity. Today, people refresh their houses with a red hue and hang red lanterns and banners. Red, yellow and green are considered 'auspicious' according to Chinese traditions.

What is the most important symbol in Chinese culture? ›

The dragon is the most powerful symbol in Chinese culture with supernatural powers and the ability to control cosmic forces. Very much a sacred imperial symbol, it represents the Emperor (just as the phoenix represents the Empress).

How do you bless a house in Chinese? ›

Grab a pineapple and roll it into the house

Keep in mind that you should be rolling the fruit with your hands and not kicking it around with your feet. This will 'bless' your new home and ensure that your residency is an abundant and prosperous one, traditionally spoken in Mandarin.

Why do you bring rice and salt to a new home? ›

Traditionally, old homeowners would carry bread, rice, and salt the first time they enter their new home in order to ward off evil spirits. These items should be carried together with that new broom or sweeper. Sprinkling salt on your door means that spirits are unwelcome in your house.

Why do you roll pineapple? ›

Transiting from a Chinese belief to a uniquely Singapore custom, rolling the pineapple is a popular ritual to bless new homes. Most likely originated from the Hokkien community, rolling the pineapple is akin to rolling good luck and prosperity into the home.

What do Chinese look for in a house? ›

The Chinese believe a home should be a balanced environment where the position of doors, windows and furnishings help the good energy to flow through unencumbered. Light and airy homes with little clutter appeal to most people so Feng Shui practices are often just good common sense.

What is the Chinese concept of home? ›

The private home is a module, or basic cell, that makes up the Chinese city. The Chinese character for "Jia" at once means both "house" and "family". A Chinese dwelling is not only a symbol of status and fortune, but also a vessel for daily life that serves as a family sanctuary.

What is the Chinese symbol for loyalty? ›

忠(Zhōng), the character for loyalty or fidelity.

What is the most powerful symbol in China? ›

The dragon is the most powerful symbol in Chinese culture with supernatural powers and the ability to control cosmic forces. Very much a sacred imperial symbol, it represents the Emperor (just as the phoenix represents the Empress).

What is the symbol of good fortune? ›

Good luck symbols and practices vary worldwide. The four-leaf clover brings fortune in Ireland, while a horseshoe, hung open-end-up, is a universal talisman. Japan has the Maneki-Neko, or beckoning cat, for luck. The elephant, especially with its trunk up, symbolizes luck in various cultures.

What is the auspicious symbol in Chinese? ›

The Chinese word fu (福), translated as blessings or happiness, encompasses all that is auspicious in life. Foremost among the motifs related to blessings is the bat, also pronounced fu (蝠) but written with a different character. Many other traditional symbols for blessings, such as the Buddha's-hand citron and the ...

What is the Chinese symbol for double good luck? ›

Not a problem— isn't a Chinese character but a decorative symbol made up of two Chinese characters. Happiness (喜, xǐ), written twice, creates囍, representing twice the happiness.

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