Spring Festival Eve: The Reunion Dinner

Spring Festival Eve: The Reunion Dinner

The Spring Festival Eve, also known as Chinese New Year's Eve, is the most important night of the year for Chinese families. This is when families gather for the reunion dinner, no matter how far they have traveled.

The Importance of Reunion

The reunion dinner on Spring Festival Eve symbolizes family unity and togetherness. Family members travel from all corners of the country and even from abroad to return home. Missing this dinner is considered unthinkable for most Chinese people.

Traditional Foods

The reunion dinner features symbolic foods: fish (representing surplus), dumplings (wealth), spring rolls (gold bars), and glutinous rice cakes (promotion). Each dish carries wishes for the coming year.

Customs and Traditions

After dinner, families stay up late to welcome the new year, known as "shousui." Firecrackers are set off at midnight to drive away evil spirits. Red envelopes are given to children and unmarried adults.

Modern Celebrations

Today, many families celebrate in restaurants or travel together. The CCTV Spring Festival Gala has become a modern tradition, watched by hundreds of millions while waiting for the new year to arrive.