How Cantonese decorate their home for new year

Cantonese will clean their home about 2days before the new year, then decorate the house before new year eve. to decorate the house, flower is a must have, many people will buy flowers from the new year fair after the new year eve family gathering dinner. so flower is the last step of decoration. after the clean up, people will stick papers with some new year wishes written on on the wall.

1. Fai Chun 挥春
Fai Chun traditionally is new year wishes written on a piece of red paper. however nowadays, many modern Fai Chun appeared included electronic Fai Chun. but like most Cantonese family, my family like stick on the traditional way. new year wishes usually formed in 4 characters. according to its meanings and will be stick on different places. for example: 出入平安 （safety travel ) usually stick on the top  of the main door of the house, stairway or corridor. 学业进步 ( good luck for study) usually stick on your study and near your desk.  there are many choices of wishes words, just pick what you like. and you can also write on your own, but remember, must on a red paper.  
 

2. Dui Lian 对联
Dui Lian are stick by the side of the door. A Dui Lian must compose with a heading, and two sentence of  poetry. just like this:

3. 门神 The god of door keepers
what should be stick on the the door are posters of door keepers. there are also many choices of the door keepers. people like using  icon of  historical army generals. the most common pair are: Qian Shu Bao秦叔宝 and Wei Chi Gong 尉迟恭 .they are famous generals in Tang Dynasty. people believe they will get ghost and evil things away from the house.

4. As to flowers. few small trunk of tangerines, and peach flower are must have things. Tangerine pronounces as good luck in Cantonese and peach flower is symbolised as good luck for romance and popularity. Orchid and peony are also very popular.

scissor cut/paper cut stick on the window are popular in the north. very few Cantonese stick paper cuts.