Why do Chinese believe red is a lucky colour?

According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nien (Chinese: 年; pinyin: nián). Nien would come on the first day of New Year to devour livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nien ate the food they prepared, it wouldn’t attack any more people. One time, people saw that the Nien was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then understood that the Nien was afraid of the colour red. Hence, every time when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nien. From then on, Nien never came to the village again. The Nien was eventually captured by hong jun lao zu, an ancient Taoist monk. The Nien became hong jun lao zu's mount.

Clothing

Chinese New Year festival in Chinatown, BostonClothing mainly featuring the colour red is commonly worn throughout the Chinese New Year because it is believed that red will scare away evil spirits and bad fortune. In addition, people typically wear new clothes from head to toe to symbolize a new beginning in the new year. Wearing new clothes also symbolizes having more than enough things to use and wear in the new year.

Symbolism

During these 15 days of the Chinese New Year one will see superstitious or traditional cultural beliefs with meanings which can be puzzling in the eyes of those who do not celebrate this occasion. There is a customary reason that explains why everything, not just limited to decorations, are centered on the colour red. At times, gold is the accompanying colour for reasons that are already obvious. One best and common example is the red diamond-shaped posters with the character 福 (pinyin: fú), or "auspiciousness" which are displayed around the house and on doors. This sign is usually seen hanging upside down, since the Chinese word 倒 (pinyin: dào), or "upside down", sounds the same as 到 (pinyin: dào), or "arrive". Therefore, it symbolizes the arrival of luck, happiness, and prosperity.

Red is the predominant colour used in New Year celebrations. Red is the emblem of joy, and this colour also symbolizes virtue, truth and sincerity. On the Chinese opera stage, a painted red face usually denotes a sacred or loyal personage and sometimes a great emperor. Candies, cakes, decorations and many things associated with the New Year and its ceremonies are coloured red. The sound of the Chinese word for “red” ( 紅) is “hong” which also means “prosperous.” Therefore, red is an auspicious colour and has an auspicious sound.

Extensive research. I am a Singaporean indian married to a Chinese wife... So it's important that I know about the Chinese Culture.

Well believed all Colors are good it depend how we value it, as many others race there a symbolic of it culture. Similarity to languages words are use and to be understand by it ethnic race others may used the same word with difference understanding or meaning (good or bad) example: Chinese do like no.3 but not no.4. In some ethnic 3 and 4 is good for them. Well for me I be lived red is good why because as I value red is strong colour,fears,attractive and many people like it.

There are many version of why the Chinese use red colour during CNY. One popular version is the story of the monster called 'Nian".This monster always come out during CNY.It was an evil monster;and like to devour children.This monster had some weaknesses.It was afraid of loud noise and red colour. This is why during CNY,Chinese like to let off red fire-crackers and hang red lanterns and cloths in front of their homes,to chase away the 'Nian' monster. Hope this help.

Besides the "Nian" monster folklore, there's actually a recorded incident where red was used to ward off bad fortune. The bible states that red was painted across people's door so that the angel of death wouldn't take away their firstborn. There are actually other justifications on how christian teachings affect the early chinese ie: how/why certain chinese characters are written. Perhaps it's not a surprise since Israel's part of Asia.

According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nien (Chinese: 年; pinyin: nián). Nien would come on the first day of New Year to devour livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nien ate the food they prepared, it wouldn’t attack any more people. One time, people saw that the Nien was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then understood that the Nien was afraid of the colour red. Hence, every time when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nien. From then on, Nien never came to the village again.

Long time a ago in ancient china, there is a monster that look like our present day Lion Dance troupe "Lion" called Nian which comes out only on the first day of Spring or the Chinese new year to come and harm the people in the village.

Then in one year, they discover that the Nian is afraid of loud noise and red thing, so they decide to hang something red and let off fire cracker in order to scare of the Monster, Nian. That is why Red and Fire cracker has been a tradition in the Lunar New Year.

You are as lucky as you think you are. Any of your favourite colour or number will bring you luck.

If it dont, it meant it is not to be. Life is destine. It is already written and kept by the good Lord.

If you came into this world with nothing, then you will leave with nothing. Need not be too superstitious. Help the weak and your weakness will be helped. What goes around will come around.

Love all brothers and sisters, only then can you love yourself.

Red is red. Black is black. White is white. So on and so forth. Let it be.

It all started with a beast called "Nian". It would visit villages during the last day of the year and feast on human beings and as such, villagers would stay alert all night, watching out for it. Then came a night when Nian killed the entire village except for a family which wore red for the night. That made people realised that Nian was afraid of red and hence, started the tradition of Chinese wearing red to celebrate the Chinese New Year - the celebration of surviving a close brush with Nian the night before.

Chinese Red Color

in the past, there is a monster called Nian. Every first day of the lunar new year, Nian will come out to wreck havoc on villages. One day, a villager discovered that by pasting red colored papers and the sound of firecrackers can scare the Nian off. So now, we call every lunar new year as 'guo nian' and believe that red will bring luck and ward off anything bad.

the above is a folklore that i know since young and i'm sharing with all of you. Happy Chinese New Year!!! =)