Red is a strong color that stands out. It has been used in almost every culture in dyes and paints, but in Chinese culture, the color itself is infused with meaning. It symbolizes celebration, success, auspiciousness, loyalty, and affluence.

The particular hue of the color most widely used is said to originate from ancient people’s worship of the sun and fire gods. Almost without exception, red appears in various kinds of traditional Chinese festivals, and of course largest of all, the Spring Festival. Fu, the Chinese character for red, is usually posted on doors, and the characters hung on either side of the door usually feature red paper and black characters. On the streets, red lanterns abound, and firecrackers are also sheathed in red.

Aside from festivals, red also plays an important role in everyday life for the Chinese.

When the upper beam is about to be laid when constructing a traditional house, the carpenter posts a red paper on the wall, with 'everything auspicious when laying the beam' written on it.

Red customs

Red eggs are a popular way to express people’s happiness across the country, and are usually given on various occasions like marriage, birth, and the one full month birthday celebration. Eggs painted in red are delivered to relatives and friends to celebrate the happy event. This tradition is related to ancient beliefs about the beginning of life. They believed eggs could drive away evil spirits. Thus eggs are related to birth and ancestral lineage. Because of the auspicious connotation of the color red, the eggs are usually painted red.

Red bellybands are also worn by newborns on the day they turn exactly one month old after taking a bath. A traditional way to protect the baby, the bellyband keeps the child’s belly warm. Women in some regions like northern Shaanxi Province, also wear them from cradle to grave. Now it has become fashionable and is considered sexy for women to wear these bands.