The reunion dinner is also a time for giving red envelopes, known as hóngbāo, containing money that is given to children and younger family members for good luck.
For the reunion dinner, Taiwanese families often prioritize local delicacies, such as pineapple cakes (鳳梨酥), Kuihs (粿), mochis (麻糬), and mustard green vegetable (長年菜),[7] symbolizing prosperity, good fortune, and longevity,[8] respectively.
[9] While large fireworks displays are popular in some places, Taiwan tends to focus more on temple visits, lantern-lighting ceremonies, and family reunions.
One unique Lunar New Year tradition in Taiwan that has caught the attention of some Chinese netizens is the practice of political leaders handing out hóngbāo (紅包) to the public.
The President, government officials, and local leaders often distribute red envelopes during public events as a symbolic gesture of goodwill and prosperity for the new year.
[14] The third day is when rats hold their weddings, so people are discouraged from social visits are encouraged to go to bed early and scatter rice grains and salt in the corners of their homes to maintain harmony between humans and mice.
Offerings typically include three types of meats, four kinds of fruits, steamed rice cakes (Fagao), candies, three cups of tea, and joss paper.
In Taiwan, businesses officially reopen on this day, and many shop owners and companies hold ceremonies to welcome the God of Wealth (Cáishén), hoping for a prosperous year ahead.
People clean their homes, dispose of garbage collected over the holiday, and burn joss paper to symbolically send away poverty (Sòngqióng, 送窮).
In the morning of the ninth day (traditionally anytime between midnight and 7 am), Taiwanese households set up an altar table with three layers: one top (containing offertories of six vegetables (Chinese: 六齋; pinyin: liù zhāi; those being noodles, fruits, cakes, tangyuan, vegetable bowls, and unripe betel), all decorated with paper lanterns) and two lower levels (five sacrifices and wines) to honour the deities below the Jade Emperor.
Incense, tea, fruit, vegetarian food or roast pig, and gold paper are served as customary protocol for paying respect to an honored person.
In Taiwan in the 2000s, some employers also gave red packets as a bonus to maids, nurses or domestic workers from Southeast Asian countries, although whether this is appropriate is controversial.
While traditional practices like offering sacrifices to the gods and enjoying symbolic foods remain central to the festivities, modern-day elements such as shopping, traveling, and electronic red envelope exchanges have emerged.
Overall, Lunar New Year is a blend of ancient customs and modern-day celebrations, offering a unique experience that highlights Taiwan's rich cultural heritage.
The primary mode of transportation in western Taiwan is oriented in a north-south direction, facilitating long-distance travel between the urbanized north and rural hometowns in the south.