During the Lunar New Year, many Chinese families gather around traditional games imbued with strategic and community elements. Not only for entertainment, these activities are also associated with cultural living habits that last all year round.
The most popular is mahjong (Mah Jong), a game using symbolized cards, usually played in groups of 4 people. The form of play is similar to Western rumi cards, but the rules of the game require strategic thinking and quite complex calculation skills.
However, people of all ages can participate quickly. In many ancient houses in China, a mahjong table is always present, even families set aside a separate room for this game. This is not only a spring festival pleasure but also a familiar entertainment activity throughout the year. To play well, participants need to master the Chinese characters printed on the cards.
Besides, buffaloes, also known as "landlord fights", are also very popular. The game usually takes place in groups of 3 people and can be expanded further, using standard decks. Fast pace creates an exciting, exciting and sometimes tense atmosphere.
Mau Binh has many variations of the rules of the game depending on the region. The game is considered easy to learn but difficult to master because it requires high strategy, making it an ideal choice in the early days of the year when everyone gathers fully.
Another activity that often appears during the New Year is card games with fortune-telling elements. Chinese tradition is associated with many forms of destiny prediction, and this is shown through "reading" cards at the beginning of spring.
In many families, parents or grandparents arrange cards to predict the good or bad fortune of their children and grandchildren in each month of the new year. In devout families, the results from these arrangements can affect decisions about traveling, moving house, changing jobs or buying a car.