Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)

About This Festival

Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional festival in China. It marks the beginning of the lunar new year and is a time for family reunions, feasting, and celebration. The festival is steeped in thousands of years of history and rich cultural traditions.

History & Origin

The Spring Festival has a history of over 4,000 years. According to legend, the festival originated from a monster called 'Nian' that would come out on New Year's Eve to harm people and livestock. People discovered that Nian was afraid of the color red, fire, and loud noises, so they began using firecrackers, red decorations, and lanterns to scare the monster away. This tradition has been passed down through generations.

Traditions & Customs

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Family Reunion Dinner (年夜饭): The most important meal of the year, bringing family members together

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Red Envelopes (红包): Elders give money in red packets to children and unmarried adults for good luck

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Spring Cleaning: Sweeping away bad luck before the new year arrives

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Fireworks and Firecrackers: To ward off evil spirits and welcome the new year

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Decorating with Red: Hanging red lanterns, couplets, and paper cutouts

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Staying Up Late: Family members stay awake on New Year's Eve to welcome the new year

Traditional Foods

Dumplings (饺子)

Symbolize wealth and prosperity due to their shape resembling ancient Chinese currency

Fish (鱼)

Represents abundance and surplus for the coming year

Spring Rolls (春卷)

Symbolize wealth due to their golden appearance

Nian Gao (年糕)

Sticky rice cake symbolizing progress and growth year after year

Festival Activities

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Visiting relatives and friends to exchange New Year greetings

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Watching the CCTV Spring Festival Gala on TV

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Lion and dragon dances performed in streets and communities

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Temple fairs with traditional performances, games, and food stalls

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Giving and receiving red envelopes

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Playing traditional games like mahjong with family