... vary depending on where you are in China. In the northern parts (Harbin, the entire Hei Long Jiang province) Chinese people believe that on the Eve of the Lunar New Year you must eat jiao zi (a Chinese dumpling). You must have an evening meal of just dumplings. Then at midnight you must eat some more dumplings. On the first day of the Lunar Year you must eat dumplings all day.

A few of the dumplings will be steamed, boiled, or fried with a coin inside. If while eating the endless supply of dumplings you happen to find or break your tooth on one of these coins, you will have good luck for the entire year.

They also believe that if you turn on a light (any light) during the Eve of the Lunar New Year, you cannot turn it off until the next day. If you turn it off then you will place a curse on the household. The Lunar New Year is a very bright time in the north.