What is the meaning of "Gong Xi Fat Choi"

@Juszie (77)
Indonesia
February 5, 2010 6:21pm CST
Hi.. Next week, Chinese people will celebrate their new year. I see "Gong Xi Fat Choi" written almost everywhere. So I wonder, what is the meaning of "Gong Xi Fat Choi"? And why almost everything colored in red? What do red resembles? Thanks
2 responses
rookiekan
@rookiekan (882)
• China
6 Feb 10
the accurate type should be "Gong Xi Fa Cai",that mean wish u could have got much fortune.spring festival is coming.May mylotters here will have a bright tomorrw,happy everyday.
arumisan
@arumisan (45)
• Australia
6 Feb 10
You might see it around as "Gung Hei Fat Choy" (or variant of that spelling), depending on the dialect but anyway that saying is basically the equivalent of "Happy New Year", or what you will say on New Year's Day. Loosely translated it mean "Congratulations and be prosperous" - basically welcoming in the new year with fortune on your side. Or something like that. To the Chinese, the red is has an immensely positive connotation, symbolising courage, loyalty, fertility and fortune (as well as others). This is why red is often used in celebrations - it's a cultural superstition where the Chinese believe that it'll bring them luck. Kind of like how people in the WEstern societies believe that a 4 leaf clover can bring luck.