Chinese New Year: Spring Festival Traditions

Chinese New Year (春节, Chun Jie) — the most important festival in the Chinese calendar — celebrates the beginning of the lunar new year with family reunions, feasting, fireworks, and ancient traditions that have been observed for thousands of years. For Chinese people worldwide, New Year is the most significant occasion for family gathering and cultural celebration.

Preparations

New Year preparations begin days or weeks before the festival: cleaning the house to sweep away bad luck; shopping for New Year goods; preparing special foods; hanging red couplets (春联) on doorways; and setting off fireworks to drive away evil spirits. The atmosphere is festive and anticipatory.

New Year's Day

On New Year's Day, families gather for a reunion dinner (年夜饭) — the most important meal of the year. Red envelopes (红包, hongbao) containing money are given to children by elders. People wear red, visit relatives and friends, and exchange greetings of "gong xi fa cai" (恭喜发财, wishing prosperity).