Seeing red

Since the Chinese New Year is just weeks away, a lot of major department stores in the country have begun selling accessories and frills for the occasion. One of the most popular decorations in these shopping outlets is the red lanterns. Lanterns are practically synonymous with Chinese culture. Lanterns are used to decorate Chinese homes during festive occasions, while red is an auspicious colour within Chinese societies. So, it is not surprising to see why red lanterns are such hot items during the Chinese New Year.