hello cb ilaine, i must plead partial ignorance re chinese new year 'Traditions' (capitalized). i have never and do not know anyone who practices the full set of too many to-do's over the thankfully very long holiday period.
i do know some (admitted very few) of the more practical but traditional acts by direct experience, and they (modernized by tj) are (the specific days are ostensibly important, but not to me as that would require memory i cannot spare):
(i) cleaning the house (not just dusting, but perhaps just imo, clear away all that accumulated in the house but is otherwise senseless, i.e. kids toys outgrown but holding no particular sentimental value, etc). modernized should incl the automobile and whatever else one may 'reside in' on daily basis, i.e. office, and the computer
(ii) fix n mend everything incl clothing, and say, that side view mirror's servo motor
(iii) protect n store, i.e. new book covers, knick knacks not covered in above (i), and filing, both personal and business - accounts, records, etc
(iv) pay off all short term debt and iou's before festivities (tradition doesn't dictate the collection of debt / iou as the debtor is supposed to take the initiative, else a bad debtor)
(v) promote staff before onset of festivities, handout bonuses, and generally bestow good news (and hold off on the bad news)
(vi) settle disputes, arguments, family hassles, parental-kids debates, whatever
(vii) reach agreements on starting of new projects n initiatives
(viii) visit family / relationship seniors, and the more important of the biz counter-parties. hand out 'little red packets' of new / crisp cash to unmarried family n relationship juniors
(ix) receive visits from family / relationship juniors, and more important of biz counter-parties. receive 'little red packets' on behalf of one's little kids from their family seniors (make sure taking the kids to visit grand parents, uncles, aunts, as many as possible :0)
(x) rest
we do a subset of the above, including
- cleaning of everything including computers (renew anti-virus subscription, back up drives, have folks vacuum the cars, change lube, rotate tires, fix trim),
- handout bonuses (these bonuses may not have much to do with business performance or individual merit, but is a sign of appreciation even if biz is so so or loss-making)
- hand out red packets to important service providers as an annual 'tip' - to gate keepers of compounds w/i which we have rentals, postman, cleaning folks, handy men, guards at office building, etc
- hand out red packets to staff (been handing out gold coins since 1999) - the gift that keeps growing
- respond to a few messages (i do not typically send out messages not so much as rude but simply do not wish to interrupt folks; although my wife probably does send messages to her friends and contacts)
- gather with some close friends and partners for a meal leading into the holiday period, and
- visit the immediate extended family which in our case is actually more of a weekly event as all the kids grand parents live w/i easy walking distance of 1 - 12 minutes (am really thankful for this blessing when my mom agreed and is now thankful for having relocated from california to hong kong where i can take better care of her and she gets to spend 3 half days a week taking care of jack and tell stories to erita during weekend gatherings. one of erita's close auntie teaches her eurythmics and piano on weekly basis.
- take off for holidays even as about 1/3 of hong kong residents empties out of hk replaced by visitors
this year we (incl all grand parents, and along with our traditional / neighborhood / family / comradeship friend the german swiss family - my wife and rudolf were classmates at biz school, and our kids have grown up together since birth) take off for koh samui for 7 nights and stay in this 'cosy' house
the kids over the 7 years and we the parents think it a worthwhile tradition :0) and am sure they would appreciate the pics
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