Celebrating the Spring Festival
Chinese New Year, often called Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is a key celebration in China and among Chinese communities globally. It signifies the start of the new year on the lunisolar calendar, serving as a time for family reunions, honoring ancestors, and festive traditions.
The festival signifies winter's close and spring's arrival, symbolizing the clearing of bad luck and welcoming fresh fortune.
The date is based on the lunar calendar, landing between January 21 and February 20. Festivities typically span 15 days.
The heart of the festival lies in family reunions, as people journey far and wide to share the New Year's Eve meal with their loved ones.
Chinese New Year traditions stem from an old legend about Nian, a beast said to rise from the sea on New Year's Eve to terrorize villages.
Taming the Beast
The villagers learned that the Nian feared red, loud noises, and fire. On New Year's Eve, they hung red lanterns and scrolls, dressed in red, lit firecrackers, and beat drums to scare it away, keeping the village safe. Today, these traditions live on with red dรฉcor, firecrackers, and lion dances to drive away bad luck and usher in prosperity.
Each year in the Chinese zodiac aligns with one of twelve animals in a recurring cycle. Legend tells of the Jade Emperor hosting a grand race to determine their order. The year 2025 marks the Year of the Snake.
Rat
Ox
Tiger
Rabbit
Dragon
Snake
Horse
Goat
Monkey
Rooster
Dog
Pig
The New Year brings customs and beliefs designed to invite fortune, success, and joy for the days to come.
Wedded pairs and seniors gift red envelopes with money to kids and singles to share good luck.
Houses are deeply cleaned ahead of the New Year to clear out misfortune and welcome good fortune.
These cultural dances fill the streets, set to drums and cymbals, driving away bad spirits and inviting fortune.
The New Year's Eve dinner is a cherished tradition, bringing families together to enjoy a grand feast of meaningful dishes.
Food holds great significance in Chinese New Year, with dishes often selected for their symbolic meanings tied to names or looks.