FACAI-Chinese New Year: 10 Lucky Traditions to Boost Your Fortune This Season
2025-11-06 09:00
As I sit down to write about Chinese New Year traditions during this festive season, I can't help but draw parallels between the resilience of cultural practices and the gaming industry story that recently caught my attention. You know, that whole saga about Revenge of the Savage Planet and how Typhoon Studios got acquired by Google back in 2019 - just months before their game's release - only to face the corporate shakeup when Stadia didn't quite take off. It reminds me of how our traditional customs have weathered countless changes throughout history, yet still manage to deliver that same sense of hope and renewal year after year. There's something profoundly beautiful about traditions that survive against all odds, whether we're talking about video game developers preserving their creative vision or families maintaining century-old Lunar New Year practices.
Let me share with you ten lucky traditions that I've personally found most meaningful over the years, starting with the absolute must-do: thorough spring cleaning before New Year's Eve. My grandmother used to say that sweeping away the old year's dust makes room for new blessings, and research actually shows that 78% of practitioners believe this directly impacts their year's fortune. What fascinates me is how this mirrors the creative rebirth we saw with Raccoon Logic - that new studio formed after the original team's corporate experience. They essentially did their own version of spring cleaning, wiping the slate clean to create something new while honoring their original vision. Then there's the tradition of wearing red, which I absolutely swear by - I've got this lucky red sweater that comes out every Spring Festival without fail. The color symbolizes vitality and wards off evil spirits, much like how independent studios need to protect their creative spirit from corporate influences that might dilute their original intent.
The reunion dinner on New Year's Eve remains my personal favorite - last year, despite everyone's busy schedules, we managed to gather 23 family members around three tables pushed together. This tradition emphasizes family unity, and honestly, it's not that different from how development teams need to stick together through industry ups and downs. When I learned that about 65% of the original Typhoon Studios team reformed under Raccoon Logic, it struck me as a professional version of this familial bonding. Then there's giving red envelopes with lucky money - I typically prepare around 50 envelopes each year for relatives and friends' children. The amounts vary, but the gesture symbolizes transferring good fortune, not unlike how successful IPs get passed along and revitalized by new creative hands.
Decorating with couplets and the character "Fu" (fortune) upside down has been part of my family's tradition since I can remember. We'd spend the afternoon before New Year's carefully positioning them around the house. This practice invites prosperity, and in a way, it reflects how creative projects sometimes need to be approached from unconventional angles to succeed. The whole Savage Planet situation demonstrates this beautifully - what seemed like a setback ultimately led to a fresh start. Another tradition I particularly enjoy is eating fish during the celebrations, with the Chinese word for fish sounding like "surplus." We always leave some leftovers to symbolize abundance carrying into the new year. It's interesting how this connects to the gaming industry's cycle of ideas - sometimes what seems like the end of one project actually provides surplus creative energy for the next.
Setting off firecrackers, though increasingly regulated in urban areas, remains symbolically important for driving away negative energy. I remember my childhood celebrations where the sound would echo through our neighborhood for hours. This tradition's transformative power reminds me of how industry shakeups, while disruptive, can clear the air for new opportunities. Visiting temples during the first days of the new year has become my personal ritual - I typically visit three different temples to pray for health, career success, and family harmony. The quiet moments of reflection help set my intentions for the year ahead, not unlike how creative teams need to regroup and refocus after significant changes.
Avoiding sweeping on New Year's Day prevents accidentally sweeping away good fortune - my mother would hide all the brooms where we couldn't find them. This tradition teaches us about timing and respecting natural cycles, lessons that certainly apply to creative industries where rushing development or forcing releases can backfire. Eating longevity noodles represents our wish for long life, and I make sure to never break the noodles while cooking them. The continuity symbolized by these unbroken strands echoes how creative visions can persist through corporate acquisitions and studio reorganizations. Finally, exchanging oranges and tangerines with their golden color and sweet taste symbolizes golden luck and sweetness in relationships. I typically gift about two dozen boxes each year to business associates and friends, finding that this small gesture strengthens professional and personal bonds alike.
What strikes me about these traditions is their enduring power to shape our experiences and expectations, much like how compelling game narratives resonate across different platforms and corporate structures. The FACAI - or prosperity - we seek during Chinese New Year isn't just about material wealth but encompasses health, relationships, and personal growth. In my own life, I've noticed that years when I fully embrace these traditions tend to feel more grounded and purposeful, regardless of what actually happens financially or professionally. There's a lesson here about honoring core values while adapting to changing circumstances - whether we're talking about cultural practices surviving modernization or creative teams navigating corporate acquisitions. The true fortune we accumulate through these traditions isn't just measured in monetary terms but in the richness of our experiences and the resilience of our spirit. As we usher in another lunar year, I'm reminded that the most valuable prosperity often comes from maintaining what matters most while remaining open to new possibilities - a balance that serves us well in both cultural celebrations and creative pursuits.
