Wear green, be clean, and 6 other feng shui tips for good fortune on Chinese New Year’s Day

(Updated 2:10 p.m.) Thursday, February 19, is the first day of the Year of the Wood Sheep in the Chinese calendar. In feng shui, this is another chance to start the year right by inviting abundance and positive energy into your home and life.

To say hello to the Lunar New Year, feng shui expert Hanz Chua shared his tips with GMA News Online on how to usher in good fortune in the Year of the Sheep.

Clean and cleanse. Welcome the new year by cleaning your home inside and out. Make sure your home is not cluttered. It's also recommended to get rid of broken appliances, gadgets, and other items. Cua warned that an untidy living space and collecting broken things invite poverty. After cleaning, "cleanse" your home by burning incense.

Check your home's plumbing and electrical system. Any leaks in your pipes and faucets symbolize "leaks" in your finances. Light bulbs, outlets, and switches should also be in good condition. Burned out light bulbs and faulty wiring signifies poor "qi" or energy flow, which can affect your good luck this year.

Get a haircut. Attention, single ladies and gentlemen: A new hairstyle can be your first step to finding love this year.

Wear the lucky colors. The feng shui expert said one should wear red for power and green for wealth when welcoming the Lunar New Year.

Get the essential fruits. In feng shui, 12 kinds of fruits should be prepared to symbolize each month of the year. Here are the fruits Cua recommended:

• Pineapple - The one fruit that you must always have in your basket. The Hokkien word for pineapple is ông-lâi, which means "fortune comes."
• Orange - This represents gold in Chinese tradition. Its round shape symbolizes money.
• Apple - The Chinese word for apple is ping, which means harmony.
• Grape - This fruit represents luxury. Traditionally, it was eaten by kings and other royals.
• Banana - Since this fruit come in clusters, it symbolizes unity in feng shui. Its yellow color also stands for happiness.
• Mango - The sweetness of ripe mangoes signifies sweetness among family members.
• Lemon - Its fragrance and essence are known to cleanse or remove negative vibes.
• Watermelon - Its color means prosperity and its seeds stand for abundance.
• Papaya - Its color also symbolized gold, just like orange.
• Lychee - This fruit's round, red body stands for happiness and good fortune.
• Avocado - Its green or purple color both symbolize prosperity.
• Pomelo - Its bright red or pink pulp represents good health.

And before the clock struck midnight on February 19, it is to be hoped you did the following:

Prepared a "bountiful" media noche. Cua said that greeting the Lunar New Year with a bountiful table invites prosperity. Make sure you serve meat, fish, greens, fruits, and cakes for good luck. BUT, leave a few bits of each dish, which symbolizes you won't run out of food for the rest of the year.
 
Gave ampao. These small red envelopes decorated with golden Chinese characters are given as gifts by the elderly to the children or the younger generation on New Year's Eve. The money inside these envelopes serves as "payments" to appease the ghosts so they won't bother the recipients of the ampao, Cua explained. The red envelope also signifies protection and good luck.

Made a loud noise. The Chinese believe that loud noise drives away evil spirits.

The real source of prosperity and abundance

Many people might scoff at the idea of feng shui or any other type of superstition, but some of these beliefs do have a basis in practical common sense, said anthropologist Dr. Michael Tan in an interview on News To Go that aired on Thursday.

"May basis naman [sa practicality]...katulad ng mga pintuan, huwag naman dire-diretso [kasi] pag ma-Ondoy ka, dire-diretso sa kwarto mo [ang tubig]," he said. "May practical aspect. Pati yung direksyon, iwasan mo ang north kasi maginaw nga...there's a science to feng shui."

The problem, he added, is when people miss the practical reasoning behind some feng shui practices and start thinking that there are magic solutions to their problems.



"Ang problema dito, ang nakita ko, ay umaasa ka sa feng shui—bibili ka ng salamin, bibili ka ng kung ano-anong mga goat and sheep and dragon [na figurine]...at ang idea dito ay mag-a-attract ka ng kasaganaan, kayamanan. Pero if you ask the Chinese saan ba nanggagaling ang kayamanan, sa kasipagan pa rin. It's [in] hard work, right?" — BM, GMA News