Number Dictionary - Da Ma Cai

CHINESE NEW YEAR

Chinese New Year is the most important festival for the Chinese people. It is also known as the Spring Festival. It is believed to be originated in the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC - c. 1100 BC) from the people's sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one. Chinese New Year celebrations traditionally run from Chinese New Year's Eve, the last day of the last month of the Chinese calendar to the 15th day of the first month, making the festival the longest in the Chinese calendar. 

FESTIVE NUMBERS	1+3D	5811, 3164
	3D	226 , 160

Some of the common Chinese New Year traditions:

New Year's Eve Dinner (Reunion Dinner)

The New Year's Eve dinner is the most important dinner for the Chinese. Traditionally, this is the family reunion dinner, where family members from near and far get together for this customary dinner and to usher in the lunar New Year. At the New Year's Eve dinner, fish and dumplings are served to symbolise prosperity and good fortune. The New Year's Eve dinner is usually held at home but in recent times, restaurants have become a popular venue for the reunion dinner.

FESTIVE NUMBERS	1+3D	0698 , 3555
	3D	260 , 321

Shou Sui

Shou Sui means after the New Year's Eve dinner where family members will normally stay awake during the night. According to tales and legends, there was a mythical beast called the "Nian". At the night of New Year's Eve, the "Nian" will come out to harm people, animals and properties. Later people learned that the "Nian" is afraid of red colour, fire and loud sounds. Therefore, on New Year's Eve night, people will launch fireworks and put on red clothes, and stay up the whole night to fend off the "Nian".

FESTIVE NUMBERS	1+3D	5840 , 1252
	3D	418 , 109

Fireworks

Fireworks are used to drive away the mythical beast called the "Nian". Right after the New Year's Eve, fireworks will be launched to celebrate the coming of the New Year as well as to drive away the “Nian”. It is believed that the person who launched the first Fireworks in the New Year will have good luck. 

FESTIVE NUMBERS	1+3D	5781 , 1242
	3D	478 , 481

Lion Dance

The lion dance has been part of the Chinese culture for thousands of years. The lion, a symbol of power, wisdom and good fortune, chases away evil spirits and brings happiness, prosperity, longevity and good luck. The lion dance is also performed at many business locations during the Chinese New Year Celebration for the lion to bring prosperity and good luck to the business for the upcoming year.

FESTIVE NUMBERS	1+3D	8782 , 8718
	3D	138 , 139

Red Packets (Ang Pow)

Red packet is a red envelope with money in it. Usually the red packet is given by adults, especially married couples and elderly people to young children during the New Year. It is believed that the money in the red packet will suppress the evil from the children, and grant them good health and longevity. The Chinese language is rich in its homophones. Amounts given in the traditional red packets may symbolise these Chinese homophones. For instance, you can give an amount ending with an eight (8), as it sounds like the word fortune in Chinese, or nine (9), which sounds like the word for longevity.

FESTIVE NUMBERS	1+3D	5631 , 3134
	3D	329 , 932