During Lunar New Year, red is traditionally considered lucky. In Chinese New Year customs, the color is associated with joy, prosperity, celebration and protection from misfortune.
Red appears everywhere during the festival: paper couplets and decorations adorn doors, red lanterns brighten streets, and hongbao—red envelopes containing money—are given to children and unmarried younger relatives. Red clothing and gift wrapping are also common because the color is understood to attract good fortune and positive energy.
The association has both symbolic and linguistic dimensions. Red has long represented auspicious power in Chinese culture, and in Mandarin its name, hóng, is connected with prosperity in several cultural expressions. Another popular tradition links red paper and firecrackers with frightening away harmful spirits. Gold is also strongly associated with wealth, but red is the standard answer when a quiz asks for Lunar New Year’s lucky color.